The Creamline Cool Smashers may be back in the Finals, but for Bernadeth Pons, the job is far from finished.
After outlasting the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 25-19, in a virtual do-or-die match in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil Centre in San Juan, the Cool Smashers secured their return to the championship stage.
But for Pons, the focus is clear—finishing the job.
“Unang-una, sobrang masaya. Kasi hindi rin talaga naging madali ‘yung journey namin na makabalik sa Finals ngayong conference,” said Pons. “So, sobrang happy, pero ‘yun, hindi pa tapos ‘yung laban. Kailangan namin ulit na maghanda, magtrabaho pa para makuha namin ‘yung goal this conference.”
Pons, Creamline Go Through Eye of the Needle
Creamline had to navigate a tough path back to the Finals, overcoming multiple do-or-die situations just to stay alive in the tournament.
After dropping a five-set loss to the Cignal Super Spikers in the qualifying round, the Cool Smashers were pushed to the brink early, needing to survive the play-in stage against the Akari Chargers before advancing to the semifinals.
From there, they split their round-robin assignments: beating the PLDT High Speed Hitters in five sets, then falling again to Cignal before winning against Farm Fresh.
“Siyempre, masaya kasi ‘yung experience kada laro ng do-or-die games… talagang in-e-embrace lang namin ‘yung pressure,” said head coach Sherwin Meneses. “Pero sabi nga ni Pons, ‘yung goal talaga is mag-champion. So ito na, tatrabahuin namin nang mabuti para maibigay namin ‘yung 100 percent namin sa Finals,” he added.
Creamline, Cignal Dispute PVL All-Filipino Crown
Now, Creamline sets up a best-of-three Finals showdown against Cignal, beginning Tuesday, April 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For Pons, this conference carries extra meaning—not just because of the return to the Finals, but because of everything the team had to endure to get there.
“Sobrang special ng conference ngayon. Kasi elimination pa lang, talagang pahirapan talaga,” she said. “Gusto din talaga naming magbunga lahat ng paghihirap namin simula noong January… Ngayon na nakabalik kami sa Finals, trabahuhin pa namin ulit para makuha namin ‘yung goal namin.”
