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Two of Creamline’s returning stars certainly enjoyed their return under the bright lights of a rivalry game.
Bernadeth Pons and Jia de Guzman hardly missed a beat in Creamline’s rivalry game against Choco Mucho on Tuesday. In fact, they relished every moment being part of the high-intensity atmosphere.
Playing in their first ‘Rebisco Clasico’ since returning to Creamline, Pons and de Guzman led the way for the Cool Smashers in their 27-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15 win over the Flying Titans before nearly 13,000 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Pons finished with stellar numbers of 19 points, 18 excellent receptions, and 13 digs to help Creamline notch their first win in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference. Making the win much sweeter, she said, was the chance to play before a familiar capacity crowd.
“Sobrang saya din na makapaglaro dito sa MOA kasi ilang months din ako na ‘di makapaglaro ng indoor,” said Pons, a vital part of Alas Pilipinas’ beach volleyball gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last December.
“So iba pa rin ‘yung aura ng pagpasok mo kanina then sobrang dami din talagang tao and sobrang saya kasi kalaban namin ‘yung Choco na matibay na team din for this conference,” she said.
Tuesday’s win also involved Pons facing longtime partner Sisi Rondina for the first time since leading Alas Beach to the historic SEA Games gold.
“After ng beach kasi, alam namin na babalik kami sa indoor eh. So alam namin na maglalaban at maglalaban talaga. So ayun, challenge lang din ‘yun para samin, kasi alam ko na sobrang competitive niya rin talaga. Sobrang ganda niyang kasama at sobrang ganda niyang kalaban,” Pons said.
De Guzman, meanwhile, tossed up 20 excellent sets against Choco Mucho, to go along with eight points and three rejections. In fact, it was her first game back at the MOA Arena since Game 3 of the 2023 First All-Filipino Conference finals against Petro Gazz.
For the star setter, it was a homecoming of sorts, especially after spending the last three years in Japan and with Alas Pilipinas for national team windows.
“The last time I played in MOA was back in 2023, and then [now] with a big crowd like this pa tas it was against Choco Mucho, a very strong team. Sobrang nakakamiss lang talaga,” shared De Guzman, who was a fixture on Creamline’s bench throughout last year.
“The feeling was very surreal when I walked into the arena kanina, and marinig ‘yung cheers for both sides na every point, nakakagana din talaga maglaro. Nakakawala din ng pagod.”
Adjustment phase
Still, the job’s not finished for Bernadeth Pons and Jia de Guzman, with both stars in the midst of their respective transition periods. Pons is still re-adjusting from beach volleyball to indoor, while de Guzman is in the midst of rebuilding chemistry with her spikers.
Although they are now fielding a full-strength roster, there is also the matter of jelling as one cohesive unit, which was highlighted in their opening game loss to PLDT last February 5.
“I think kasi individually, we are very skilled. It’s a matter of how do we put that together na maging cohesive siya, na pagdating sa loob ng court, alam namin ‘yung ikikilos ng isa’t isa,” said De Guzman.
“Yun ‘yung tinatry namin alamin ngayon, and we’re doubling our efforts sa communication, and kita rin naman how we performed sa first game.Doon lumabas ‘yung mga lapsesnamin in communication, so tinrabaho din namin ‘yun this game and we have much more to work on.”
If their against Choco Mucho was any indication, it’s that the league darlings are on the right track to rebuilding their championship-tested chemistry. Now, the challenge is for them to build on that momentum as the new conference continues to heat up.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.