MANILA, Philippines – The rematch of the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference finals did not disappoint as Creamline averted Cignal’s five-set comeback attempt in 2025 All-Filipino play, 25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 15-9, on Saturday, February 1.
In front of a crowd of 4,603 at the PhilSports Arena, reigning Reinforced Conference MVP Bernadeth Pons flexed her all-around prowess anew with 27 points on 24 attacks, 2 aces, and 1 block to go with 14 excellent digs to help Creamline win its 17th straight game — seven coming in the new conference — in the two teams’ first matchup since the 2024 finals.
Three-time MVP Tots Carlos scored 15 off the bench, while Bea de Leon added 12 off 8 attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 ace, as Kyle Negrito steered the offense with 21 excellent sets.
Creamline’s other three-time MVP Alyssa Valdez, meanwhile, only appeared briefly in the second set before apparently hurting her right knee, but quickly reassured the team that she was fine.
“Of course we’re happy that we recovered from the third and fourth sets. We know that Cignal’s winning mentality is always there and they’ve been difficult opponents ever since,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.
“Coach Shaq [delos Santos] never easily loses no matter what players he has, so they really worked hard this game. I guess the breaks just went our way and it helped that Creamline is used to games like that.”
Down two sets, Cignal mustered enough firepower despite a razor-thin roster with a pair of 25-23 finishes in the third and fourth sets to force a winner-take-all fifth frame against the full-strength Cool Smashers.
Creamline, however, once again showed championship composure in the endgame, powering ahead with a 4-1 starting salvo before doubling up, 10-5, off a Pangs Panaga block on Ishie Lalongisip.
Jackie Acuña scored three points in Cignal’s last-gasp 4-1 rally to get within three, 12-9, but an on-fire Pons hammered down two of the match’s last three points to seal the deal in favor of the defending All-Filipino champions.
Surging spiker Vanie Gandler followed up a 22-point effort against PLDT with 21 against Creamline, but both in losing efforts as Cignal fell to 5-3, still in third place.
Lalongisip reset her pro career-high with 19 points, all off attacks, while middle blocker duo Acuña and Rose Doria-Aquino scored 16 and 11, respectively.
Akari grounds late Capital1 surge as Ced Domingo returns from injury
Meanwhile, the Akari Chargers earned a much-needed sweep win to rise to a 5-4 record, denying a late rally by the reeling Capital1 Solar Spikers, 25-9, 25-17, 26-24.
Star spiker Ivy Lacsina led all scorers with 15 points, all off attacks. Eli Soyud scored 12 on 9 attacks and 3 blocks as Akari celebrated the return of star blocker Ced Domingo, who played sparingly for the first time since injuring her right knee in the 2024 Invitational Conference semifinals.
Trisha Genesis paced Capital1’s descent to a 1-7 slate with 14 points, while former NCAA MVP Shola Alvarez emerged with 7 points, all in the Solar Spikers’ third-set comeback attempt. – Rappler.com