The Creamline Cool Smashers continued its immaculate run in the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference. But it certainly looked like the crowd favorites would get the first blemish on their record when the Cignal HD Spikers stretched them to the limit on Saturday at PhilSports Arena.
Creamline had raced to a 2-0 lead in that match and looked well on their way to victory. Then, Cignal launched a fiery comeback, tying things up at two sets apiece and putting itself in prime position to pull off the stunner.
But Bernadeth Pons would have none of it. She took over the fifth set, delivering the killer blows for the Cool Smashers and towing them to their seventh straight win and solo first place in the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference standings.
The 2024 Reinforced Conference MVP wound up with 27 points anchored on 24 kills, 2 aces, and a block on top of 14 excellent digs in yet another superstar effort for Creamline. Prior to that, Pons fired 13 points on 12 attacks in the Cool Smashers’ sweep of the Nxled Chameleons as she continued her stellar play for the pink squad.
Little wonder Pons was unanimously voted by PVL scribes as the Player of the Week—an honor the fiery win surely deserves.
Consistency Is Key for Bernadeth Pons
For Pons, the name of the game at the moment is consistency—something she says she works on in training with, well, consistency.
“Actually, gusto ko lang din talagang maging consistent, ‘yung goal ko lang talaga everyday sa training pa lang, [mag-improve] na kahit one percent lang every day,” Pons said after the match against Cignal. “Sa training kasi, nacha-challenge rin talaga ako, kasi sobrang competitive ng lahat. Pahirapan pumuntos, walang nagpapabagsak ng bola. As a player talaga, nacha-challenge din ako sa mga kasama ko, so parang, sobrang laking bagay ‘yung sa a akin na pagdating sa laro, ‘di talaga ako papayag na basta-basta.”
From the looks of it, Bernadeth Pons has found that consistency—that MVP form. And it only bodes well for the Cool Smashers, who are looking for a fourth straight title this conference to follow their amazing Grand Slam last season.
