The Creamline Cool Smashers win the bronze medal in the PVL on Tour. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Creamline has not missed out on the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) podium since joining the league—and it will continue to do so.
The Cool Smashers salvaged their PVL on Tour campaign by snagging the bronze at the expense of perennial third-place winner Cignal, 25-17, 29-27, 25-17, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It was the team's fourth bronze—the last being in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
Creamline fell to the bronze medal match after losing against PLDT last Tuesday, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, while Cignal absorbed a 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23 defeat at the hands of Chery Tiggo at the same game date.
READ: Davison answers the call as PLDT advances to first PVL Final by taking down Creamline
While the HD Spikers emerged triumphant in their PVL on Tour preliminary match, 25-22 25-18 28-26, the Cool Smashers had their revenge this time, in a more crucial game.
The Cool Smashers though had to earn the win in a hard way, most notably in the second set where Cignal had established a 24-20 lead, poised to equalize at 1-1.
READ: PVL: Chery Tiggo back in finals after 4 years, eliminates Cignal
But ex-MVPs Michele Gumabao and Alyssa Valdez, as well as Rhea Villarete took turns to lift Creamline, as they eventually tied at 24-all, pushing the frame to the limit.
Cignal took an unfortunate turn as the coaching staff raised a floor touch challenge midway through the rally at the 27-26 mark, but was unsuccessful, gifting a point to the Cool Smashers as libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla saved the ball clearly.
Pangs Panaga fired a block and Gumabao completed the comeback with an off-the-block hit, 29-27, for a 2-0 lead.
Creamline clinched the three-set triumph by firing seven unanswered points from the 18-17 mark in the final canto, highlighted by Jema Galanza who scored from the service line, as Valdez unleashed an off-the-block hit, officially nabbing the podium result.