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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Cool Smashers turn back Thunderbelles for second straight win

Cool Smashers turn back Thunderbelles for second straight win

Published Feb 17, 2026 10:04 pm

At A Glance

  • Four players scored in double figures for the Cool Smashers, including versatile setter Jia De Guzman, whose playmaking brilliance anchored the squad to its second straight victory in three outings.
Jia De Guzman steps up for Creamline. (PVL Images)
Jia De Guzman steps up for Creamline. (PVL Images)
Creamline bucked a slow start and turned back ZUS Coffee, 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Four players scored in double figures for the Cool Smashers, including versatile setter Jia De Guzman, whose playmaking brilliance anchored the squad to its second straight victory in three outings.
She finished with 10 points, while also managing 25 excellent sets.
“I really don’t count the points; I’m just focused on the system,” said De Guzman. “Hindi naman ako makaka-perform nang ganyan if not for my teammates.”
Bernadeth Pons paced Creamline with 19 points built on 16 kills, while Tots Carlos chipped in 12. Jema Galanza also added 11 points, including late attacks in the fourth set that sparked their surge en route to the victory.
“It took us a while to really warm up in the first set. We made a lot of errors. Thankfully in the second set and the rest of the game, we got the momentum and coach just told us to get back to the system,” De Guzman said.
More than anything, it also marked De Guzman’s first match against ZUS Coffee, which served as a fresh and exciting challenge for the veteran playmaker.
“They’re a really formidable team. Their middles really did a lot of damage for us and very challenging silang kalaban,” she said.
ZUS Coffee came out smoking in the opening set with Chinnie Arroyo and Thea Gagate spearheading the attack, but Creamline’s poise, experience and chemistry took over the succeeding frames.
Arroyo finished with 18 points while Gagate had 11 in a losing cause as the Thunderbelles skidded to their third loss against a single win.
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