MANILA — Creamline's journey back to the top was filled with challenges — from surviving do-or-die matches, bucking injury setbacks, and facing tough opponents, the Cool Smashers experienced it all.
That's why setter Jia de Guzman had a sense of relief and fulfillment as they completed a redemption tour in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
De Guzman and the Cool Smashers earned their record-extending 11th PVL crown after surviving Cignal in Game 2 of the Finals, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11, on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
READ: Creamline completes redemption, takes down Cignal for 11th PVL crown
"Sobrang saya, sobrang relieved kasi 'di namin ito magagawa kung 'di kami nagtulungan talaga from start to finish. As in, bawat laro na pinagdaanan namin iba 'yung challenge, iba 'yung kailangan from each person para mairaos namin," said the decorated playmaker.
"We had a couple of do-or-die games din na sobrang proud ako sa kung paano namin hinandle as a team," she added.
It was a triumphant PVL return for de Guzman, winning another championship with the powerhouse franchise after playing for the Denso Airybees in Japan.
"For me, kung tatanungin ako kung ano ang most special championship, it will always be the most recent one. Kasi bawat championship na pinagdadaanan namin, ibang sacrifice, ibang story," said the eight-time PVL Best Setter.
"So hahawakan namin lahat ng natutunan namin this conference and lahat ng natutunan namin sa sarili namin, sa isa’t isa and that what makes this one special this time around."
De Guzman tallied 31 excellent sets to enable Creamline's firepower against Cignal in the title-clinching win.