Creamline Rallies for Second Straight Victory
Creamline Cool Smashers showcased their championship poise on Tuesday night, rallying from a set down to defeat ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-18, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre. The victory marked Creamline’s second straight win, lifting the team to a 2-1 record early in the tournament.
After yielding a tightly contested opening set, Creamline steadied itself and dictated the tempo the rest of the way, leaning on disciplined defense and sharper offensive execution to subdue a ZUS Coffee side that slipped to 1-3.
A Slow Start, Then a Shift in Control
ZUS Coffee drew first blood, carving out a 25-22 win in the opening frame by capitalizing on Creamline’s early miscues. The Thunderbelles kept rallies alive and pressured Creamline into errors, briefly seizing momentum.
But the Cool Smashers responded with composure. In the second set, they tightened their floor coverage and found better rhythm in transition, pulling away for a decisive 25-17 equalizer. That adjustment proved pivotal. From that point forward, Creamline forced ZUS Coffee to chase the match.
The third and fourth sets followed a similar script. Creamline surged ahead behind sustained runs, controlled exchanges at the net, and steadier passing. ZUS Coffee struggled to regain its footing as Creamline closed out the final two frames, 25-17 and 25-18.
De Guzman Orchestrates the Comeback
At the center of Creamline’s resurgence was veteran playmaker Jia de Guzman, who delivered 10 points and dished out 25 excellent sets. More than the numbers, it was her orchestration of the offense that turned the tide.
De Guzman varied her distribution and kept ZUS Coffee’s blockers guessing, ensuring that Creamline’s attacking options remained balanced and unpredictable. Her leadership steadied the team after a tentative start and set the tone for the comeback.
Building Early Momentum
Creamline’s victory carries added weight in the context of a tightly contested All-Filipino Conference, where early wins can define playoff positioning. Improving to 2-1, the Cool Smashers have regained traction after a mixed opening stretch.
For ZUS Coffee, now at 1-3, the loss underscored the challenge of maintaining consistency across four sets. The Thunderbelles showed flashes of control in the opener but could not sustain their level as Creamline adjusted.
Poise Under Pressure
If the first set hinted at vulnerability, the remaining three revealed Creamline’s hallmark resilience. Like a seasoned squad weathering a sudden squall, the Cool Smashers recalibrated and steered the match back in their favor with patience and precision.
As the conference unfolds, performances like Tuesday’s serve as reminders of why Creamline remains a formidable contender. The ability to absorb an early blow and respond with discipline may prove decisive in the long grind of the season.
For now, Creamline leaves the Filoil Centre with momentum firmly on its side — and with back-to-back victories reinforcing its intent to stay among the conference’s elite.
