The Creamline Cool Smashers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — Creamline has sustained its streak of finishing at the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) podium by blasting Chery Tiggo, 25-15, 25-13, 25-22, in the bronze medal match of the 2025 Invitational on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This third-place result meant a 19th straight podium appearance for the Cool Smashers, sending a statement that they are still a force to reckon with in the league.
Whether they're fighting for the title or for the bronze, they needed to give the same intensity, asserted Michele Gumabao, echoing coach Sherwin Meneses' statement.
After Creamline made easy work in Sets 1 to 2, the final period was a closer bout up until the 22-all mark.
But Gumabao was there to power the Cool Smashers, finding the personal 3-0 run built on a long shot, an into-the-block hit, and another attack to put out the fire in the Chery Tiggo nest.
"Sabi nga ni coach [Sherwin Meneses], whether pinaglalabanan namin 'yung championship o 'yung third place, kailangan pareho talaga 'yung intensity namin," said Gumabao, who poured in a game-high 17 points on 58 percent attack efficiency.
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"And I think nabigay naman ng lahat ng tao, ng buong team kahit 'yung mga hindi nakitang maglaro," the former Invitational Conference MVP added.
Other former MVPs also showed up, with Jema Galanza tallying 12 attack points, seven excellent digs and seven excellent receptions, while Alyssa Valdez's near triple-double of nine points, 13 excellent digs and 18 excellent receptions did not go unnoticed by the Cool Smashers' fans.
Lorie Bernardo added flame to the Creamline firepower, listing six points which were all dealt in the third set.
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For their part, it was an unfortunate fallout for the Crossovers, who fell to fourth-place result after they weren't able to repeat their five-set triumph during the preliminaries over Creamline.
Ara Galang paced the Chery Tiggo crew with 10 points and five excellent digs, while Cess Robles had nine points and five excellent receptions.
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