PASAY CITY — In a thrilling five-set encounter before a crowd of over 12,000 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Bernadeth Pons proved exactly why she is affectionately nicknamed “MVPons.”
The do-it-all outside spiker delivered a masterpiece on Saturday night, leading the Creamline Cool Smashers to a stunning come-from-behind victory over top-seeded PLDT High Speed Hitters: 22-25, 27-25, 19-25, 28-26, 15-10. The win puts the defending champions just one victory away from returning to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Finals.
Pons was the undisputed engine of the Creamline offense and defense, saving the team from the brink of defeat in a nail-biting fourth set before closing out the match in the fifth.
- Offensive Firepower: 28 total points, consisting of 21 kills, 4 blocks, and 3 service aces.
- Defensive Anchor: Displayed her elite beach volleyball background with 22 excellent receptions and 16 digs.
- The “MVPons” Chant: The MOA Arena erupted in chants for Pons as she repeatedly bailed out the Cool Smashers during high-pressure rallies.
For Creamline, this conference is about redemption. After a historic grand slam in 2024, the team went title-less in 2025—a drought they are eager to end.
- Backtracking the Losses: The Cool Smashers are on a “revenge tour,” systematically beating the teams that defeated them during the preliminaries. Having already overcome PLDT, their next target is Cignal.
- Team Support: Fellow former MVP Jema Galanza provided a significant spark off the bench with 17 points, marking a successful return from a minor knee injury.
Creamline can secure their finals berth on Tuesday, April 14, if they defeat the Cignal Super Spikers. The Super Spikers previously sent Creamline to a knockout Play-In during the qualifying round, adding more fuel to the Cool Smashers’ drive for a comeback.
“We’re really grateful for this opportunity because all the teams we’re facing now actually beat us in the preliminaries,” Pons said. “This is our chance to bounce back. It won’t be easy, but we’ll work for it.”
If the Cool Smashers maintain their momentum, they are on track to face either Petro Gazz or Choco Mucho in what promises to be a blockbuster finals series later this month.