Sherwin Meneses unlocks winning blend as Creamline’s depth fuels four-game surge

After absorbing a stunning opening-game sweep at the hands of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, the 10-time champions have quietly rebuilt their rhythm, not by overhauling their system, but by maximizing it.

Creamline stretched its winning streak to four with a 25-14, 17-25, 25-18, 25-23 decision over the Galeries Tower Highrisers at the FilOil Centre, leaning on Tots Carlos’ 19-point outing and a rotation that has finally clicked.

For head coach Sherwin Meneses, the early stumble may have served as a necessary wake-up call.

Since that loss, the Cool Smashers have taken down the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, Capital1 Solar Spikers, and Galeries Tower. 

Three of those wins came in four sets and another via sweep. The victories were not always dominant, but they were controlled, steady, and built on depth.

More than the results, it is the distribution of minutes that signals Creamline’s resurgence.

“Meron naman na talaga kaming rotation talaga. Talagang siyempre as a team, kailangan din ng mga role players, mga off the bench,” Meneses the 42-year-old head coach said.

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4TH STRAIGHT W FOR CCS

WATCH: Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, Player of the Game Tots Carlos and returning Kyla Atienza on their 25-14, 17-25, 25-18, 25-23 over Galeries. #PVL2026 | via @kennedyzcaacbay pic.twitter.com/wI3SVlUvlW

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Creamline’s bench, after all, is stacked with veterans capable of carrying starting roles anywhere else in the league — from Alyssa Valdez and Michele Gumabao to Kyle Negrito and Bea de Leon. Instead of relying heavily on a fixed core, Meneses has shuffled combinations, preserving energy while maintaining intensity. 

“Hindi ka naman magiging champion team kung mga anim hanggang pito lang ‘yung gumagawa kaya happy kami kasi ‘yung mga nasa bench, nagpe-perform din,” he said.

At the forefront remain pillars Bernadeth Pons, Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga, Carlos, and Jia de Guzman — a starting unit that provides both firepower and stability.

The renewed balance has restored the Cool Smashers’ trademark sharpness, but Meneses remains wary as the preliminaries approach their critical stretch.

“Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa sa mga next game namin at mas maganda pa ‘yung ipakita nila. ‘Yung rotation namin, nandiyan naman na rin ‘yan at okay na naman. Walang team ngayon na hindi talaga lumalaban kaya dapat every possession, ready ka,” Meneses said. 

Creamline faces another litmus test Saturday against the Nxled Chameleons. A win would lift the Cool Smashers to 5-1 and further affirm their upward trajectory and a loss would tighten the standings at 4-2.

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