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| Creamline import Coco Schwan. Photo: PVL Images. |
In a team built around offensive juggernauts, the Cool Smashers rarely worry about who’s scoring. But when the floor defense starts to slip and passing lanes begin to crumble, it’s Schwan who quietly takes charge.
That was the story Thursday night as Creamline shrugged off a shaky start to dispatch Nxled, 20-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
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| Coco Schwan (22) spikes the ball against Nxled. Photo: PVL Images. |
The American outside hitter didn’t just contribute points; she redefined her impact on the game. “If I’m not scoring much, I’ll find another way to help,” Schwan said after the win. “Tonight, it was about defense. I just focused on reading the ball and keeping things alive.”
And she did exactly that. Schwan turned into Creamline’s defensive heartbeat, tallying 15 excellent receptions and 14 digs to stabilize their backline whenever Nxled pushed the pace. Her hustle kept rallies alive, setting the tone for the Cool Smashers’ comeback after dropping the opening frame.
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| Coco Schwan (22) on defense. Photo: PVL Images. |
Head coach Sherwin Meneses’ squad found its groove in the second set, flipping the switch with sharper execution and renewed confidence. “We tried to find joy again,” Schwan added. “That first set, we were a little tight, a bit hesitant. But once we loosened up and trusted each other, the rhythm came naturally.”
The Cool Smashers’ firepower eventually proved too much for Nxled to handle. With Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza catching fire from the wings and Alyssa Valdez steering the attack with poise, Creamline built a double-digit cushion in the fourth set.
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| Creamline's Coco Schwan (22) and Alyssa Valdez (2). Photo: PVL Images. |
Still, Nxled refused to fold easily. Import Paola Martínez led a spirited 5-0 run late in the set that trimmed Creamline’s lead to five, 22-17, before a costly service error from Jaja Maraguinot stopped the rally cold, a break Schwan humbly acknowledged. “We got a little lucky there,” she said with a smile. “But once that happened, we refocused and closed strong.”
Schwan finished with 14 points to go along with her stellar defensive numbers, proving once more that her value goes far beyond the stat sheet.
In a roster stacked with stars, Schwan remains Creamline’s glue, the kind of player who doesn’t just win games but holds the entire system together when it matters most.