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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Surging Cool Smashers, Solar Spikers collide; Foxies face embattled Thunderbelles

Surging Cool Smashers, Solar Spikers collide; Foxies face embattled Thunderbelles

Published Feb 20, 2026 12:56 pm  |  Updated Feb 20, 2026 04:03 pm

At A Glance

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With Farm Fresh colliding with ZUS Coffee in the nightcap, the twin bill could serve as another reminder that in this conference, nothing comes easy – and no lead is ever safe.

Creamline is wary of Capital1 in their upcoming duel. (PVL Images)
Creamline is wary of Capital1 in their upcoming duel. (PVL Images)
By CHRISTAN SALVAÑA, Intern
Depth meets firepower when Creamline squares off with the Bella Belen-led Capital1 in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Cool Smashers (2-1), coming off back-to-back wins over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, are expected to lean on both their depth and momentum as they take on the red-hot Belen and the Solar Spikers (2-2) in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser.
The matchup unfolds ahead of the 6:30 p.m. clash between ZUS Coffee (1-3) and Farm Fresh (1-2).
Belen has been leading the league in scoring, averaging 26.5 points in four outings, and recently powered Capital1 to a five-set win with a career-best 29 points over Choco Mucho last Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Creamline, meanwhile, has rediscovered its rhythm after an opening day loss to PLDT, coming off a 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-18 victory over ZUS Coffee.
Bernadeth Pons has led the scoring for the Cool Smashers in the past three games, with support from Jia De Guzman, Jema Galanza, and Tots Carlos, while Pangs Panaga and Bea de Leon continue to anchor the middle with authority.
“Syempre excited. Knowing Bella, talagang very competitive din. Pero siguro hindi namin hayaan ma-control ni Bella yung laro. Balik muna kami sa ensayo tomorrow then tignan namin kung san kami may advantage sa Capital1 and magandang laban yun. Excited makakalaban namin si Bella,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, who won a championship with Belen in the UAAP.
Still, unpredictability cuts both ways.
Setters Jasmine Nabor and Iris Tolenada have multiple offensive options in Shaya Adorador, France Ronquillo, Lella Cruz, Ezra Madrigal, Pauline Gaston, Cherry Nunag and the fiery Ypril Tapia. If Creamline keys too heavily on Belen, Capital1 has the depth to make them pay.
On the other hand, the Thunderbelles will take on a rejuvenated Foxies side that snapped a two-game skid with a dominant 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 sweep of Galeries Tower on Valentine’s Day.
ZUS Coffee, for its part, is searching for consistency after absorbing a four-set defeat to Creamline. The Thunderbelles own just one win – a five-set escape over Akari – and need to rediscover the form that carried the Thunderbelles to a runner-up finish in the Reinforced Conference.
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