Redemption has never felt this sweeter for the Creamline Cool Smashers — just ask veteran spiker Jema Galanza.
As one of its pioneers, Jema Galanza is no stranger to winning Premier Volleyball League titles with the Creamline Cool Smashers — with those 11 championships even including a Finals MVP plum she copped two years ago.
Though if she’s being honest, Creamline’s 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference title might just be their most meaningful championship run to date.
“Para sa’kin, ito ‘yung happiest and memorable na championship na napanalunan namin, kasi ‘yung mga teams na natalo kami, nakabawi kami ngayong conference bago kami makapasok talaga ng finals,” the veteran spiker said moments after Creamline closed out the Cignal Super Spikers on Thursday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Talagang dinaanan namin lahat ng tumalo sa amin, and ayun parang nakakaproud lang. Naprove din namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin mag-champion, basta sama-sama lang kami.”
Unlike past years, Creamline’s path to their 11th title was anything but easy. Fresh off a Grand Slam in 2024, the Cool Smashers were dethroned by Petro Gazz, followed by back-to-back bronzes, and even their streak of 19-straight podiums being halted to end 2025.
This year’s All-Filipino tilt wasn’t any easier, with the Cool Smashers falling to Cignal, Farm Fresh, and PLDT in eliminations. In the postseason, they had to overcome a pair of do-or-die games to keep their title hopes alive.
But as Jema Galanza said, it didn’t take long for Creamline to get even. In the round-robin semifinals, they took down PLDT in five-sets, before asserting their might against Farm Fresh to set up a finals clash against Cignal.
“Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa mga teammates ko and coaches, kasi may mga games na si Coach [Sherwin Meneses] nawala, ako nawala; hindi kami nakumpleto sa ibang games, pero nagpeperform sila and binibigay nila ‘yung best nila,” said the veteran spiker.
“So salamat lang talaga ‘yung gusto ko sabihin sa team dahil nagchampion kami and kasi teamwork talaga ‘yung nagdala samin.”
It was also a redemption arc for Galanza, who missed the 2025 Reinforced Conference due to a career-threatening left foot injury.
“Yung injury kasi, hindi natin inaasahan ‘yan eh. Parang buong offseason naman nagprepare ka nang maayos, nagpakundisyon ka tapos magugulat ka na nagkaroon ng ganon,” she said.
“But ayun nga, sabi ko na kahit nawala ako, hindi naman na-feel ng team na may kulang. Lahat talaga nag-contribute, so thankful lang ako.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.
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