

Creamline Cool Smashers returned to the top of Philippine volleyball, defeating the Cignal HD Spikers in a five-set thriller to win the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference championship on Thursday, April 23.
Creamline outlasted Cignal, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22, 15-11, to secure its 11th league title and complete a redemption run after falling short in last year’s finals.
Bernadeth Pons led the Cool Smashers and was named Finals Most Valuable Player, delivering key plays down the stretch to anchor the team’s comeback bid. Pangs Panaga also made her mark at the net, earning the conference’s First Best Middle Blocker award.
The title win marked a strong return to form for Creamline, which fielded a full-strength lineup this season following the return of key players Jema Galanza, Jia De Guzman, and Pons. The trio’s presence bolstered the team’s depth and stability throughout the tournament.
Creamline’s victory also served as redemption after being dethroned by the Petro Gazz Angels in last year’s All-Filipino Conference finals.
Cignal, meanwhile, absorbed its second finals defeat to Creamline after falling short in the 2024 Invitational Conference. The HD Spikers settled for a runner-up finish despite forcing a deciding fifth set.
In the battle for third, PLDT High Speed Hitters closed their campaign on a winning note, defeating the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-14, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-5, in Game 2 on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
