“Healthy competition all the way”: Alyssa Valdez opens up on the growing rivalry between Creamline and Cignal

The rivalry between the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Cignal Super Spikers has quickly emerged as the marquee storyline of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, captivating fans with high-intensity matches that have gone down to the wire.

Both meetings between these two PVL heavyweights so far in the conference have extended to five-set thrillers, highlighting the evenly matched nature of the contest. In the preliminary round, Creamline drew first blood with a dramatic 25-19, 25-20, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14 victory over Cignal, showcasing their ability to maintain composure in tense moments. Yet, in a rematch that carried semifinal implications, Cignal exacted revenge, eking out a 25-21, 24-26, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15 win to secure a place in the semifinals, further intensifying the growing rivalry.

Amidst the back-and-forth battles, PVL icon Alyssa Valdez, who captains Creamline, has expressed appreciation for the competitive environment, noting that it pushes both teams to elevate their game.

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“Alam mo, parang lagi pala kami halos five-setter games and we didn’t even realize it. But I guess that’s when you know both teams are really having that healthy competition. And it’s just so nice to see na parehong teams nagpapakita at nag-i-step up,” Valdez said during a media interaction.

The veteran superstar also highlighted the learning opportunities provided by facing Cignal, underlining the importance of carrying lessons from tough matches into future contests.

ONTO THE NEXT 🍦

Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez breaks down a tough qualifying round defeat to Cignal and carries no regrets in what was still an encouraging performance nonetheless. #PVL2026 @spinph pic.twitter.com/Lkhyirbg8e

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) March 26, 2026

“Sa totoo lang, grabe ‘yung mga learnings namin sa Cignal. Dadalhin namin ‘yun sa future games namin. And yeah, congratulations to them,” she added.

Valdez herself has been enjoying a career resurgence in the current All-Filipino Conference. Even in the recent loss to Cignal, the 32-year-old standout delivered an all-around performance, finishing with 18 points, 19 excellent digs, and 20 excellent receptions, proving that she remains a central figure for Creamline both offensively and defensively.

Despite her impressive individual showing, Valdez stressed the importance of moving past the defeat and refocusing on upcoming challenges.

“I guess at some point, siyempre, andun ‘yung panghihinayang. Pero we don’t have time to dwell on it kasi may mga games agad-agad. Titingnan namin yung mga pagkakamali namin, correct them, learn from this, then move forward and focus on the next game,” she said.

Looking ahead, Creamline will aim to return to winning ways when they face the Akari Chargers in a must-win encounter on Tuesday, April 7, at the FilOil Centre. With the semifinal race tightening, Valdez and her teammates understand the urgency of bouncing back, while continuing to build on the lessons learned from their intense duels with Cignal.

The Creamline-Cignal rivalry has not only delivered some of the most exciting volleyball of the season but has also showcased the growth of the league, with both teams pushing each other to new heights. Fans can expect more high-stakes clashes in the coming weeks, as these PVL titans continue to battle for supremacy in the All-Filipino Conference.

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