This extended 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference is down to one last showdown: a best-of-three PVL Finals between the top-seeded Creamline Cool Smashers and the second-seeded Petro Gazz Angels.
Both teams have been neck-and-neck all tournament long. Each won 10 of its 11 matches in the preliminaries. Each has lost only twice this conference—Creamline to Petro Gazz and the PLDT High Speed Hitters and Petro Gazz to Creamline and the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. Each also has a win over the other, with the Cool Smashers sweeping the Angels in the Preliminaries and the latter returning the favor in the semis.
The two teams are also loaded with talent. Creamline has former MVPS in Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Bernadeth Pons leading the way. Petro Gazz has the inimitable Brooke Van Sickle, the reigning All-Filipino Conference MVP, and the resurgent Myla Pablo, a two-time MVP herself, doing great guns, along with veterans like Aiza Pontillas, Jonah Sabete, and MJ Phillips.
All things considered, the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference will boil down to what could very well be an epic PVL Finals for all the marbles.
Creamline Hoping to Extend PVL Domination, Petro Gazz Looking for PVL Finals Redemption
The Cool Smashers are no doubt the favorites in these Finals. Aside from their loaded lineup, they’re also the reigning All-Filipino Conference champions and are coming off an historic Grand Slam even with Valdez recovering from injury and Galanza serving the national team for long stretches. They’ve won 10 PVL titles in all and are looking for their 11th, including an unprecedented fifth straight crown.
The Angels, two-time champions of the Reinforced Conference, are looking for a breakthrough title in the PVL’s most prestigious tournament and their third overall in franchise history. They are also seeking redemption after losing to Creamline in this very conference two years ago even after winning Game 1 of that PVL Finals.
Valdez, who has been through her fair share of wars so to speak, knows fully well the caliber of team her Cool Smashers will be facing.
“This conference, Petro Gazz has a complete team—not just in the wings, but with Sabete and MJ Phillips, too. They’re solid all around, and their bench is deep,” Valdez said. “Plus, they’re all healthy. Looking ahead to the finals, I think the key difference for both of us, since we’re both veteran teams, will be who stays healthier and can keep up throughout the games.”
Van Sickle, who is gunning for her first title in the PVL, is bracing for an in-form Creamline in the PVL Finals.
“They’re [Creamline] always a winning team. They’re always in the finals, so I’m gearing up. I already kind of been mentally preparing for the rematch and I know for a fact if we do end up rematching them, they’re going to come out at 120 percent, so we’ve got to be ready,” Van Sickle said. “They’re super hungry, and we were able to luckily get a win off of them in the semis, so we’ll see. It’s going to be a tough battle.”
PVL Finals: The Final Battle Unfolds
The 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals begin later today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Petro Gazz and Creamline will begin their epic tussle at 6:30 p.m. after the Choco Mucho Titans and Akari Chargers play Game 1 of their battle for third series.
