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The Creamline Cool Smashers are the 2025 PVL on Tour bronze medalists. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Creamline is still the standard of greatness in the Premier Volleyball League.
In a conference—albeit a preseason tilt—where they fell down to the bronze medal match for the first time after three years, it was still the Cool Smashers who emerged triumphant against Cignal, a squad that has finished in third place five times already.
Even though they were not battling for a championship, the Cool Smashers showed no signs of slowing down and thwarted the Erika Santos-paced squad in a thrilling straight-set match, 25-17, 29-27, 25-17, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to keep their podium streak alive, extending it to 18.
It looks to be one of the more durable records in Philippine sports, a testament to Creamline's steadfast commitment to being the best.
READ: Creamline secures another podium finish, takes PVL on Tour bronze at Cignal's expense
Former PVL MVP Michele Gumabao underscored this, saying that missing out on the championship is "not the end" for Creamline.
That "sweet 18" consists of 10 golds, four silvers and bronzes in all of the conferences the Rebisco squad joined.
"At the end of the day, we’re still consistent. At the end of the day, it also has never been done. So, to be consistent is also one of the hardest things to do," Gumabao stressed.
"I think madali manalo, madaling mag-champion, but to do it over and over again is also the hardest thing," she added.
"Andun pa rin. One [conference] na 'di nag-champion is not the end for us."
Creamline skipper and three-time league MVP Alyssa Valdez, who eventually won the Best Outside Spiker citation alongside fellow veteran Myla Pablo, said the PVL on Tour bronze "doesn't define" the team at all; rather the takeaway from all of these was their 18th straight podium result.
“To add to that lang, I think this bronze medal match doesn’t define the Creamline Cool Smashers as a team. I think that’s exactly MG’s point. It’s the 18 consecutive [podium] and consistently being there,” said Valdez.
“At this point, I think one thing we’re gonna take [from this bronze] is that our hard work, the coaches’ hard work, everybody, our management, are all there. We’re helping each other to reach our goal every single time,” she added.
"We fell short this time, but definitely, we're gonna be very competitive and push each other to be better in the coming conferences."
There's always a next conference, but that will come sooner for Gumabao, Valdez, and the Cool Smashers as they take part in the 2025 Invitational Conference starting this Thursday, August 21.