John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

Article (news)

PVL AFC 26 Creamline vs. Cignal - -9724

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774099116884PVL AFC 26 Creamline vs. Cignal - -9724.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Creamline Cool Smashers. <em>PVL Media Bureau</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — The cast of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference qualifying round is finally complete.</p><p>This, as Creamline snatched the last spot by outlasting Cignal in five long and grueling sets, 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14 on Saturday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.</p><p>Despite going in undermanned, with Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons still out, the Cool Smashers powered their way through, with the help of Alyssa Valdez&#x27;s vintage form and SEA Games beach volleyball gold medalist Dij Rodriguez, rescuing the team from the brink of a play-in spot to the qualifying phase.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m very, very happy for everybody. Everybody actually stepped up today and made sure na ginagawa din talaga &#x27;yung trabaho,&quot; said Valdez.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre, sa tulong din ng mga ate at sila Jema at Pons, nagre-remind din sila sa akin,&quot; said Rodriguez, crediting the sidelined but seasoned players.</p><p>The match literally went the distance, with both squads duking it out for each and every point. The Cool Smashers squandered a 24-21 match point advantage in Set 4, as Vanie Gandler kept her team alive with clutch hits, capped by a Jewel Encarnacion hit that sent the encounter to a decider.</p><p>Jia de Guzman suffered a bad slip early in the fifth, prompting her to be taken out of the taraflex and be treated for medical attention.</p><p>With Kyle Negrito stepping in as setter, she steered Creamline throughout Set 5. Tots Carlos eventually powered Creamline to match point, 14-13, but Cignal by then was not ready to go home as Encarnacion kept her team alive with a kill.</p><p>Thankfully for the Creamline fans in the arena, the final two points manifested, as Negrito nailed a gutsy surprise attack that hit the line, and Bea de Leon rose to the occasion with a rejection on Encarnacion at the net, ending the thriller that lasted for two hours and 39 minutes.</p><p>Valdez stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 13 digs, and 13 receptions to lead the team, while Rodriguez served as the Ateneo legend&#x27;s offensive partner with 19 attack points.</p><p>Meanwhile, Gandler churned in a game-high 26 points, 19 digs, and 15 receptions to star for the losing side.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NNvX_S1IY9o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The cast of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference qualifying round is finally complete.</p>

The cast of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference qualifying round is finally complete.

PVL: Creamline secures qualifying round spot after crucial, grueling win vs Cignal

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PVL: Creamline secures qualifying round spot after crucial, grueling win vs Cignal

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 21, 2026 10:36 PM PHT

|

Updated March 22, 2026 12:44 AM PHT

Read More:

volleyball

Premier Volleyball League

PVL All-Filipino Conference

Creamline Cool Smashers

Cignal Super Spikers

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