Creamline's Bernadeth Pons. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Despite a challenging campaign, Bernadeth Pons never lost faith in Creamline.
Although their tournament run was far from flawless, the Cool Smashers secured a return to the Finals after missing the title stage in the previous three Premier Volleyball League (PVL) tournaments.
The Cool Smashers leaned on their veteran poise to defeat the Farm Fresh Foxies in the round-robin semifinals of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, 25–23, 14–25, 25–23, 25–19, on Thursday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Pons expressed gratitude for the opportunity after Creamline overcame numerous challenges, including injury setbacks and do-or-die matches.
READ: PVL: Creamline eliminates Farm Fresh, arranges Finals clash with Cignal
“Hindi pa nag-start ’yung conference, kumpiyansa ako sa team namin na kaya namin makabalik talaga sa finals. Although shaky ’yung start namin, given kasi talaga na iba na ’yung labanan ngayon — nag-level up din talaga lahat ng teams, sobrang ganda ng competition. So, sobrang challenge din ’yun para sa team namin. Every game, talagang laban talaga,” said Pons.
“So, ’yun, sobrang grateful lang din kasi kahit papano nai-survive namin ’yung bawat game namin. Kahit hindi gano’n kapulido ’yung naging run namin this conference. Pero, andun pa rin ’yung team.”
The 2025 Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball gold medalist returned to PVL action in the All-Filipino Conference after focusing on the regional competition.
Dubbed “MVPons,” the Far Eastern University (FEU) product proved to be a crucial cog for Creamline, highlighted by a triple-double performance of 12 points, 17 digs, and 17 receptions in their semifinal win over the Foxies.
For Pons, the team’s veteran core is one of its biggest strengths heading into the championship series.
“Siyempre, sobrang grateful ako kasi ’yun ’yung core talaga ng team, buo pa. And ’yun ’yung isang baon namin going into the finals talaga,” she said.
She also acknowledged the tough challenge ahead against the Cignal Super Spikers.
“And siyempre, alam namin talaga na hindi magiging madali ’yung laban. So, kailangan namin paghirapan bawat puntos, kailangan namin trabahuhin sa ensayo pa lang.”