Creamline lands Jennifer Nierva as Cool Smashers begin All-Filipino rebuild

After a season that ended without a single trophy—an unfamiliar outcome for a team that once owned every crown in sight—Creamline has begun to show how it plans to respond.

The Cool Smashers’ first meaningful statement ahead of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference came quietly but unmistakably, with several team leaders posting photos and clips of former Chery Tiggo libero and Alas Pilipinas standout Jen Nierva taking part in training on Friday.

The appearance of Nierva, widely regarded as one of the country’s most reliable floor defenders, offers a glimpse into Creamline’s evolving priorities. 

After surrendering its historic grand slam in 2025, the club is clearly placing renewed emphasis on backcourt stability and ball control—areas that proved costly in the Reinforced Conference, where the team ranked just fifth in reception efficiency (37.29 percent) and seventh in digs per set (12.63).

At 25, Nierva arrives not only with pedigree but with immediate familiarity. The former UAAP Best Libero is set to reunite with close friend and Alas Pilipinas playmaker Jia De Guzman, whose expected return to club play comes after a year devoted entirely to national team duties. Their chemistry, forged through countless international matches, could accelerate Creamline’s attempt to regain its rhythm in the All-Filipino setup.

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MEET THE NEWEST COOL SMASHER

The Creamline Cool Smashers boost their defense with the addition of libero Jen Nierva ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference. #PVL2026 | via @PaigeJavier

(: _jennierva) pic.twitter.com/iQHAEcsfiW

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) January 9, 2026

The reinforcement wave doesn’t stop there. Bernadeth Pons, a former league MVP, and Dij Rodriguez are also poised to rejoin the fold after focusing on Alas Pilipinas’ beach volleyball campaign last year—a stint that culminated in a historic gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Their return adds experience and versatility to a roster eager to reassert itself.

Creamline’s recalibration extends beyond the court as well. The addition of Mark Alfafara to the coaching staff strengthens the team’s analytical backbone. 

Like Nierva, Alfafara has roots in Chery Tiggo’s program and currently serves with the national team, further deepening the Cool Smashers’ connection to the country’s elite volleyball structure.

Taken together, the moves point to more than simple roster tinkering.

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