Creamline setter Jia de Guzman. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — Creamline bucked a Set 1 loss en route to its four-set win over Zus Coffee, 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18, in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Star playmaker Jia de Guzman orchestrated the win, showing her passing and scoring prowess in nailing 25 excellent sets and 10 points to pave the way in Cool Smashers' second straight win.
Still, De Guzman is looking at the aspects of their game that need improvement, despite going up 2-1.
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"I think, regarding my performance, I still see a lot of lapses. Maraming sitwasyon nga, like coach [Sherwin Meneses] mentioned, na we could've controlled better, we made a lot of errors. Pero, thankfully, natuto kami and naihabol naman namin," said the Alas Pilipinas captain during the postgame interview.
"As a team, I'm really proud of how we performed. Kasi, ito yung kinds of games na natututo kami gumalaw as one," she added.
In Set 4, the Cool Smashers rode a 14-4 run to turn back the upset-seeking Thunderbelles.
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Thanks to De Guzman's brilliance, three other players were in twin-digit scoring: Bernadeth Pons (19 points and 16 excellent digs), Tots Carlos (12 points and eight excellent digs), and Jema Galanza (11 points).
"Natututo kami sa mga ganung situation, and siyempre, knowing 'yung Zus talagang beterano rin sila maglaro. Happy kami kasi nakuha namin 'yung panalo," said tactician Sherwin Meneses.
Meanwhile, Chinnie Arroyo was a bright spot for Zus Coffee, pacing the losing effort with 18 points. Thea Gagate had 11 markers, as Fiolla Ceballos and Riza Nogales added nine each.