Creamline Cool Smashers defeat Nxled as Michele Gumabao downplays defending-champion tag in PVL 2025

The Creamline Cool Smashers kicked off the second phase of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference with a convincing 20–25, 25–13, 25–16, 25–18 victory over the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday, November 6, at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.

After an inconsistent start to the tournament that saw them finish the first phase with a 3–2 record, the defending champions rediscovered their rhythm behind a balanced team effort led by star import Courtney Schwan, who tallied 14 points along with 14 excellent digs and 15 receptions. She received steady support from Pangs Panaga and Tots Carlos, who chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Despite the win, veteran Michele Gumabao emphasized that the Cool Smashers can’t rely on their past success and must continue working harder in a more competitive league landscape.

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“Honestly, wala. Kinalimutan na namin. Hindi talaga namin iniisip ‘yung past or ‘yung record. Hindi namin iniisip na kami ‘yung defending champion,” Gumabao said in the post-match press conference.

All-around performance for our Player of the Game, Michele Gumabao! 1️⃣3️⃣ points of power and good vibes! 🏐🙌#IgniteTheGoodVibes#CreamlineCoolSmashers#CreamlineCreamyIceCream pic.twitter.com/aks1ISwD8K

— Creamline Cool Smashers (@CoolSmashers) November 6, 2025

“Siyempre, we are going to draw confidence from that na defending champion kami pero we have to work na parang hindi, so we really have to work harder than other teams because they are also working hard. We have to play smarter.”

Creamline, long considered the Premier Volleyball League’s gold standard, is still searching for the dominance that once defined its run of championships. After capturing a historic Grand Slam of PVL titles, the Cool Smashers have since fallen short—finishing as runners-up in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference and settling for bronze in both the 2025 PVL On Tour and the 2025 Invitational Conference.

The 33-year-old Gumabao acknowledged that consistency and composure remain key challenges for the team as they look to live up to their winning legacy.

“Kailangan pagpasok namin sa loob ng court, mas gigil kami kasi ‘pag masyado kaming relaxed, as what happened in the first set, medyo ‘yung energy namin bumababa talaga. So, parang naghahabol kami every game and maging composed kami all throughout.

“When we step into the game, we respect all of our opponents. And siyempre, kailangan talaga ibigay ‘yung best namin, so mahirap talaga sa ‘min na kinakalaban namin sarili namin through our errors,” she added.

With the victory, Creamline strengthened its bid for a quarterfinal berth and will look to sustain its momentum when it faces rival Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday, November 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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