Creamline defeats Cignal to rule Invitationals, completes PVL Grand Slam
The Creamline Cool Smashers extended their record as champions after bagging their 10th overall title and became the first Premier Volleyball League (PVL) team to win three conferences in one season.
The untouchable Creamline conquered the gutsy Cignal HD Spikers in a five-set thriller, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, to clinch the Invitational Conference crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, September 12.
Creamline made history as they also won the All-Filipino Conference earlier this year and the Reinforced Conference just a week ago, completing a historic grand slam.
The Cool Smashers rallied behind the efforts of Best Outside Hitter awardee and American import Erica Staunton who fired 29 points coming from 26 attacks, while Reinforced Conference double MVP Bernadeth Pons led the locals with 27 markers anchored on 24 attacks and two aces, also tallying 16 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
“It means so much coming into this conference that the only mindset we really held is that we have been together for a long time and each one knows their role,” said Finals MVP Kyle Negrito in Filipino, who also delivered 25 excellent sets.
Creamline played most of the last two conferences without their brightest stars.
Michelle Gumabao led all local players in scoring during the week-long tournament, accumulating 59 points from 52 spikes, four service aces, and three blocks, earning her first Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the age of 32.
Reinforced Conference Best Import and Invitationals Best Outside Hitter MJ Perez, on the other hand, paced the Cignal HD Spikers with her monster showing, finishing with game-high 42 points from 37 attacks, two blocks, and three aces.
Ces Molina and Jackie Acuña, who was named as one of the Best Middle Blockers, scored 10 each as the tournament marked Cignal’s second silver medal along with a league-record five bronzes.
Meanwhile, Kurashiki Ablaze managed to win a bronze medal after dominating Thailand’s Est Cola following a straight-set, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20, victory in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference battle for third.