Creamline was on the wrong side of history this time around.
It’s the end of an era for the Creamline Cool Smashers after falling to the Petro Gazz Angels in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Creamline’s streak of 19-straight podium finishes is officially over after a 23-25, 19-25, 25-16, 14-25 loss to Petro Gazz in the conference quarterfinals on Monday, November 24, which also marks their worst finish in franchise history.
Rather than cry over spilled milk, head coach Sherwin Meneses hopes that his wards can move on quickly, stressing that such records are meant to be broken in the long run.
“Yun nga, sabi ko nga sa dugout, we must accept kung ano ‘yung mangyayari. Yun ‘yung pinaka-way for us bilang coach nila to move on; Marami pa naman liga so dapat ma-accept kagad namin kasi wala naman gusto matalo,” Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said post-game.
“Syempre lahat naman ng record nabibreak eh, pero ‘yun nga ang pinakaimportante is i-accept ‘yung pagkatalo and talagang deserve ng Petro Gazz.”
In Meneses’ view, the breaks of the game favored Petro Gazz, who also avenged their quarterfinals loss in last year’s Reinforced Conference. Even more impressive, he said, is the Angels showing championship poise after import Lindsey Vander Weide went down with a right ankle sprain in Set 1.
While Creamline did steal Set 3, the Angels still proved to be too much, thanks to a 26-point effort from Myla Pablo, and a triple-double of 19 points, 12 digs, and 10 receptions from Brooke Van Sickle.
“Lalo na nung nawalan sila ng import, talagang champion caliber talaga ‘yung pinakita nila,” the Creamline coach reflected. “And I think mas marami ‘yung breaks of the game tsaka ‘yung mga lapses namin sa serve receive ngayon. Pero ayun nga, tapos na, so move on na lang doon sa sitwasyon.”
‘Bilog ang bola’
Without a doubt, 2025 has been a tough year for the Creamline Cool Smashers, whose bid for a fifth-straight PVL title was ended by Petro Gazz during the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference last April.
That silver medal was followed by two back-to-back bronze medals in the inaugural PVL on Tour and 2025 Invitational Conference. Although it did extend the Cool Smashers’ podium finishes, it was no doubt well-below the expectations they have set as the league’s dominant darlings.
Then came Monday’s result, which denied the Cool Smashers a shot at a 20th-straight podium finish. For returning middle blocker Bea de Leon, such setbacks must be learning experiences for Creamline as their path to redemption continues.
“Well, we really have to shift it right away into something positive. Obviously it’s a loss and we’re still sad, but at the same time, we have to take away something positive, na there’s more to come and more to learn,” De Leon said in a separate interview.
“That’s something we have to welcome with joy as well, same as we welcome our wins before, we also welcome this and turn it into something good.”
As true champions, De Leon is confident that Creamline can turn things around when the next PVL conference tips off next year. In her view, the Cool Smashers have long established a culture of winning within the dugout, and it’s only a matter of re-introducing it for both the old reliables and fresh legs.
“It didn’t get us through this conference and through the year and it’s been a down year for us. But I know that, and I trust in my teammates, especially our seniors, that we will pull together, and again, this is something that we’ll try our best to turn it into something better for us,” she said.
“From the seniors, we pass it down to the young ones, we’ll pass on that culture and set the character of what Creamline should be.”
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.