Photo credit: PVL

Here we go again.

Just when it looked like the Petro Gazz Angels might fly away with the All-Filipino crown, the ever-resilient Creamline Cool Smashers dug deep, showed their battle-tested heart, and said, “Not so fast.”

In a match that swung like a pendulum and had 11,058 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum holding their breath Thursday night, Creamline clawed out a gritty 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9 win in Game 2 of the PVL Finals — a gutsy effort that leveled the series and set up a can’t-miss Game 3 showdown on Saturday at Philsports Arena.

And really, should we be surprised?

This isn’t Creamline’s first rodeo. The moment screamed pressure, but they answered like the champions they are — with composure, chemistry, and just enough chaos to rattle a determined Petro Gazz squad.

Bernadeth Pons: Big-Time in the Big Moment

If there was a heartbeat to this wild win, it was Bernadeth Pons. The Cool Smashers’ spark plug dropped 22 points and came up clutch when it mattered most — engineering a pivotal 3-1 burst in the fifth set to turn a tight 5-all score into an 8-6 advantage at the changeover.

She did it all — a kill, a block-touch conversion, a blast after a near-miss. And when Petro Gazz blinked? Creamline pounced.

“Puso ng kampeon,” Pons said post-match, flashing a tired but satisfied smile. “Ang ganda ng laro ng team… kahit nalamangan kami, andun pa din kami – laban pa rin.”

Her grit on defense wasn’t too shabby either — 12 excellent receptions and nine digs, proving she was everywhere at once.

Creamline’s Championship Core Delivers — Again

The win wasn’t all on Pons, of course. This was vintage Creamline — the kind of performance you get from a team that’s been through the fire together.

Jema Galanza dropped 13, Pangs Panaga scored 12, and Michele Gumabao added 11. From start to finish, they matched Petro Gazz blow for blow — even with the Angels firing on all cylinders and unleashing offensive waves led by Brooke Van Sickle (18 points), MJ Phillips (15), and Jonah Sabete (14).

In total, Creamline had more attack points (55-53), more aces (10-7), and just enough poise to overcome 27 unforced errors.

Petro Gazz’s Fourth Set Fury

To their credit, the Angels didn’t go quietly.

Down 2-1 in sets, they unloaded in the fourth with a fiery 18-9 surge that left Creamline on its heels. Phillips and Dacoron were relentless, and Van Sickle’s ace capped a barrage that forced Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses to rest his starters and regroup for the fifth.

It worked — but not before Petro Gazz made a serious statement: they’re not just passengers in this Finals ride.

Winner-Take-All: Who Wants It More?

Now, it’s all on the line. One more game, one more shot at glory.

Creamline has the edge in experience. They’ve been here before. They know what it takes. But Petro Gazz? They’ve got hunger — and now, they’ve got nothing to lose.

Game 3 is shaping up to be a classic. And with two powerhouse teams refusing to back down, the only guarantee is that fans are in for one heck of a finale.

Let’s do this.