The Creamline Cool Smashers may be one win away from another PVL championship, but both Jema Galanza and head coach Sherwin Meneses know the job is far from finished.
Creamline dominated Game 1 of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals, sweeping the Cignal Super Spikers, 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to move a step closer to their 11th title.
Galanza: Victory Is Just the Beginning
For Galanza, the win is only the start of a tougher challenge.
“’Yung season kasi ngayon para sa amin, ako sa tagal ko sa Creamline, ito ’yung season na mabigat talaga kasi nag-level up na ’yung ibang teams,” said Galanza, who finished with 17 points and 13 excellent receptions in the win.
“So, ngayon, mas gigil talaga kaming manalo kasi iba ’yung feeling pag nananalo kami. Pag nanalo kami ngayon, pinaghirapan talaga namin ’yung game na ’to,” she added.
Creamline Rising Amid Adversity
After completing a Grand Slam in 2024 but failing to defend any of their titles in 2025, the Cool Smashers entered this conference with renewed urgency. Their return to the Finals was far from easy, navigating multiple do-or-die situations just to get back to the championship stage.
That journey, according to Galanza, has made this run more meaningful.
“Talagang nag-build sila ng players and parang kami minsan kinukuwestiyon na rin namin ’yung isa’t isa kung aabot ba kami sa dulo,” she admitted.
Still, Creamline leaned on its championship experience to stay composed in Game 1, controlling the match from start to finish against a Cignal side that had beaten them twice earlier in the conference.
“Siguro malaking bagay lang na meron akong teammates na sumusuporta sa akin, nagtitiwala sa akin, and of course, ’yung coaches din ganun din sila sa akin,” Galanza said.
“Malaking bagay sila, malaking part sila ng life ko, kaya sa ganitong mga laro, alam mo ’yon, ini-enjoy mo, tinatanggap mo kasi ito ’yung mga larong minsan lang mangyayari sa life natin. So thankful ako na meron akong teammates na nagbo-boost ng energy at morale ko,” she added.
Discipline Key in Game 1
For head coach Meneses, what stood out most was Creamline’s discipline.
The Cool Smashers committed just 12 errors in the match—an efficiency that helped them dictate the pace and limit Cignal’s chances to recover.
“Sobrang satisfied kasi kung iko-compute mo, parang four lang kada set,” said Meneses, visibly pleased with his team’s composed performance.
Against a familiar opponent that had beaten them in two of their last three meetings prior to the championship series, Creamline showed poise and control throughout.
The veteran coach also pointed to the team’s experience as a major factor.
“Siyempre, sobrang advantage ’yun kasi bihira namang mapunta doon, so ’yung experience na nakuha ng Creamline, dinala nila sa Finals,” said Meneses.
“Pero siyempre iba-iba ’yung situation. Sabi ko nga kanina, lahat naman gustong manalo, pero ibinigay sa ’min ’yung experience na ’yun, so dapat magamit namin dito sa bago kasi past na ’yung champion—ito na ’yung bago, ito ’yung dapat naming paghandaan. Malaking factor din siguro kasi na-experience nila ’yung ganoong pressure.”
Creamline Expecting Fierce Fight Back
Despite the dominant win, both Galanza and Meneses expect a strong response from Cignal in Game 2.
“Hahabaan namin ’yung pasensya namin at ready kami sa mga babaguhin ng Cignal sa Game 2. And siguro, ’yun, lagi naman naming sinasabi na one day lang ang preparation, so kailangan naming maka-recover agad talaga ngayong gabi, makakain nang maayos at makatulog, then balik kami sa training at Game 2 ulit.”
Meneses echoed the same mindset, emphasising that consistency will be key moving forward.
“Hopefully ma-improve pa namin ’yun, pero happy kami doon sa 12 errors. Sana magtuloy-tuloy. Siyempre, sa Game 2 ibang usapan naman ’yun; try namin i-maintain o mabawasan pa,” Meneses ended.
