Creamline Shows Championship Steel, Turns Back Choco Mucho to Punch QF Ticket

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by Raymund Tamayo

Creamline's Coco Schwan and Michele Gumabao vs Choco Mucho
Creamline's Coco Schwan (22) and Michele Gumabao versus Choco Mucho. Photo: PVL Images.

Creamline didn’t get the smooth cruise many expected, but the defending queens of the PVL made sure they got the job done. 

After breezing through the first two sets, the Cool Smashers had to dig deep in the third before completing a 25–17, 25–17, 25–23 sweep of Choco Mucho Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to clinch their place in the Reinforced Conference quarterfinals.

For two sets, Creamline looked every bit the well-oiled machine fans have grown accustomed to, crisp passing, disciplined floor defense, and timely swings that kept Choco Mucho scrambling. But with their season hanging by a thread, the Flying Titans came alive in the third, turning the frame into a tense, back-and-forth duel that momentarily put the champions on their heels.

Choco Mucho briefly seized momentum when Royse Tubino hammered a back-row attack for a 23–22 lead. But true to form, Creamline kept its nerves steady. Coco Schwan responded with a clutch hit to level the score, and Michele Gumabao followed with a blistering spike off the block that pushed the Cool Smashers back in front.

Creamline's Michele Gumabao spikes the ball against Choco Mucho.
Creamline's Michele Gumabao (7) spikes the ball against Choco Mucho. Photo: PVL Images.

Moments later, Creamline’s net defense delivered the dagger. With the rally heating up and the crowd roaring, the Cool Smashers shut down Isa Molde’s final swing, sealing the sweep and finishing the hour-and-18-minute contest with their trademark composure.

Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses praised his squad for answering the call.
“Maganda ‘yung response ng team today. Lumaban lahat, at ‘yung mga pumasok from the bench, nag-deliver,” he said, pointing to the collective effort that defined their performance.

Best Player of the Game Kyle Negrito, who tallied 18 excellent sets, said the team understood the stakes heading into the final stretch of the eliminations. “Hindi na puwedeng mag-relax. Every point counts,” she said. “Composure talaga ang puhunan namin sa dulo.”

Schwan led the Cool Smashers with 15 points, while Gumabao added nine. Creamline’s depth once again proved lethal as Tots Carlos, Pangs Panaga, Alyssa Valdez, Sheen Toring, and Lorie Bernardo pooled together 24 additional markers.

Choco Mucho's Isa Molde.
Choco Mucho's Isa Molde. Photo: PVL Images.

Molde topscored for Choco Mucho with 11, while import Marlee Smith, cold in the opening sets, managed to pick up steam late but never found the consistency the Titans needed.

Choco Mucho slid to 2–5 and bowed out of contention, while Creamline, now at 5–2, shifts its attention to a crucial showdown with a red-hot Cignal squad next week, a matchup that could set the tone for their quarterfinal campaign.