Creamline Cool Smashers
 2026 Creamline Cool Smashers season | |||
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| Short name | Creamline | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Cool Smashers | ||
| Founded | 2017 | ||
| Head coach | Sherwin Meneses | ||
| Captain | Alyssa Valdez | ||
| League | Premier Volleyball League | ||
| 2026 All-Filipino | Champions | ||
| Championships | 11 List
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| Uniforms | |||
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| Rebisco sports teams | ||||||
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| See also | ||||||
| Rebisco Clasico |
_pictogram.svg.png){kind=small}
The Creamline Cool Smashers are a Filipino professional women's volleyball team owned by Rebisco. The team competes in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), where they were one of the six original women's teams in 2017. The team is named after Creamline Creamy Ice Cream, one of Rebisco's products.
The Cool Smashers saw instant success under head coach Tai Bundit, which later continued into the professional era under Sherwin Meneses. The team has won eleven PVL championships, more than any other team in the league, and are the only franchise to have accomplished the rare Grand Slam by winning all three conferences in the 2024 season. From 2017 to 2025, the team also had a podium streak that lasted for nineteen conferences.
Many star players have competed for the team, including Alyssa Valdez, Jia de Guzman, Jema Galanza, Jeanette Panaga, and Michele Gumabao among others. The Cool Smashers also have a sister team in the Choco Mucho Flying Titans. The two teams contest the Rebisco Clasico, the league's most popular active rivalry. They also had a rivalry with the now-inactive Petro Gazz Angels, with both teams being the league's two most successful teams.
History
2017–2021: Tai Bundit era, early success
The Creamline Cool Smashers were one of two expansion teams during the Shakey's V-League's rebrand to the current Premier Volleyball League, alongside the Perlas Spikers. The team is owned by Rebisco, which named the team after their ice cream brand Creamline. For their inaugural season, the team appointed Tai Bundit as head coach and signed three-time UAAP women's volleyball MVP Alyssa Valdez as team captain.[1]
Right away, Creamline made the semifinals of the 2017 Reinforced Conference but lost to the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders. In the Open Conference, the team added Jia Morado to their roster, but still fell to BaliPure in the semifinals. The 2018 Reinforced Conference saw the arrival of Filipina-Japanese player Risa Sato. After topping the preliminary round table, the Cool Smashers beat the Pocari Sweat–Air Force Lady Warriors in the semifinals to make their first finals appearance. They would then sweep the PayMaya High Flyers to win their first championship. They would follow up with a second championship in the 2018 Open Conference, sweeping the Ateneo–Motolite Lady Eagles in the conference finals.
In the 2019 Reinforced Conference, the team had an opportunity to win three championships in a row. In the finals, they would face against the Petro Gazz Angels in the first title bout of their eventual rivalry. The Cool Smashers fell short in the Reinforced Conference finals, losing to the Angels in three matches, but reclaimed their throne in a rematch during the Open Conference finals, beating Petro Gazz in two matches.
After the PVL's year-long suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Creamline returned to competitive play in 2021, this time as a professional team. For the 2021 Open Conference, the team added Tots Carlos from the Motolite Power Builders. After beating Petro Gazz in the semifinals, the team made their fifth consecutive finals, where standing in their way were PVL newcomers Chery Tiggo Crossovers. Creamline failed to go back-to-back a second time after a close best-of-three series.
2022–present: Sherwin Meneses era
Ahead of the 2022 season, Creamline made their first major coaching shift. Due to the pandemic, Bundit had to stay in his home country of Thailand. In his place, Sherwin Meneses, who was the team's interim head coach last season, took on the permanent role going forward.[2]
2022–2023: Continued success
The team's success continued under Meneses. Keeping their existing roster with minimal changes, the team won back-to-back titles in the Open Conference and Invitational Conference.[3][4] During the season, Creamline also formed part of the Philippine national team's core and staff for the 2022 Asian Women's Volleyball Cup on account of winning the Invitational Conference.[5][6] Creamline, acting as the national team, finished sixth in the tournament hosted at home.[7] Heading into the 2022 Reinforced Conference, Creamline had a shot at achieving the league's first Grand Slam, the feat of winning all three conferences in a single season. Unfortunately, they finished third in the round-robin semifinals, not only losing their chance but also ending their streak of seven finals appearances.[8] They did sweep the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the third place series to extended their podium streak to ten conferences.[9]
The team opened the 2023 season with yet another championship, beating Petro Gazz in the 2023 All-Filipino Conference finals, but fell short in the following Invitational Conference against Japanese guest team Kurashiki Ablaze.[10][11] Ahead of the culminating conference of the season, Creamline lost Jia de Guzman, who had moved to Japan to play for the Denso Airybees. Still, in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, Creamline managed to make their tenth finals appearance in eleven conferences, where they would play against their sister team, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, for the first time. Creamline would defeat Choco Mucho in two matches to win their seventh championship.[12]
2024: Grand Slam season
Despite not being able to top the preliminary rounds of the first two conferences of the season, Creamline were able to win the title in both the 2024 All-Filipino Conference and Reinforced Conference.[13][14] Once again, the Cool Smashers had a shot at the Grand Slam in the Invitational Conference, albeit with a smaller pool of teams. After going undefeated in the preliminary round, they faced against the Cignal HD Spikers for a shot at history.[15] In a close five-set match, Creamline were able to defeat Cignal to claim the league's first-ever Grand Slam.[16]
2025–present: Grand Slam blues
In April 2025, Creamline competed at the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League in Pasig. The team lost in the elimination round.[17] In August, Creamline finished third in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference after defeating Chery Tiggo.[18] In November, Creamline sustained its worst-standing in the PVL after it lost to Petro Gazz in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.[19]
In 2026, Creamline gained its 11th title when it won the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference after defeating the Cignal Super Spikers 3–2 in a best-of-three game series.[20]
Current roster
| Creamline Cool Smashers roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Height | DOB | From |
| 1 | 
|
Kyle Negrito | Setter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | December 15, 1996 | Far Eastern |
| 2 |
|
Alyssa Valdez (C) | Outside Hitter | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | June 29, 1993 | Ateneo |
| 3 |
|
Michelle Gamit | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | May 9, 2000 | St. Benilde |
| 4 |
|
Dij Rodriguez | Opposite Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | August 29, 1996 | Southwestern |
| 5 |
|
Sheena Toring | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | May 28, 2001 | National-U |
| 6 |
|
Jeanette Panaga | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | July 25, 1994 | St. Benilde |
| 7 |
|
Michele Gumabao | Opposite Hitter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | September 2, 1992 | De La Salle |
| 8 |
|
Ella de Jesus | Libero / Outside Hitter | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | August 17, 1993 | Ateneo |
| 9 |
|
Lorie Bernardo | Opposite Hitter | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | August 1, 2000 | Philippines |
| 11 |
|
Kyla Atienza | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | April 12, 1997 | Far Eastern |
| 12 |
|
Jia De Guzman | Setter | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | May 15, 1995 | Ateneo |
| 13 |
|
Denden Lazaro-Revilla | Libero | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | January 21, 1992 | Ateneo |
| 14 |
|
Bea de Leon | Middle Blocker | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | August 2, 1996 | Ateneo |
| 15 |
|
Nica Celis | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | July 7, 2001 | Philippines |
| 17 |
|
Rosemarie Vargas | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | December 12, 1992 | Far Eastern |
| 18 |
|
Tots Carlos | Opposite Hitter | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | July 7, 1998 | Philippines |
| 19 |
|
Bernadeth Pons | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | October 19, 1996 | Far Eastern |
| 22 |
|
Jennifer Nierva | Libero | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | November 8, 1999 | National-U |
| 23 |
|
Jema Galanza | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | November 28, 1996 | Adamson |
| 24 | .svg.png){kind=small}
|
Aleiah Torres | Libero / Outside Hitter | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | September 24, 2001 | Brock |
| Updated as of: January 31, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph | ||||||
|
Coaching staff
|
Team staff
|
Medical staff
|
Rivalries
Choco Mucho Flying Titans
Creamline has a rivalry with sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans, despite mostly dominating the rivalry. It has become one of the PVL's most popular rivalries, with matches between the two seeing large attendance turnouts. The two teams met in the championship twice.
Petro Gazz Angels
Until 2025, the Creamline Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz Angels were the two longest-tenured and most successful teams in the PVL. Before Petro Gazz took a leave of absence in 2026, both teams met in the championship five teams with Creamline winning three of them.
Season-by-season records
Premier Volleyball League
List of the last five conferences completed by the Creamline Cool Smashers. For the full-season history, see List of Creamline Cool Smashers seasons.
| Season | Conference | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2024 | Invitational | 1st (4–0, 12 pts) | Won in championship vs. Cignal, 3–2 | Champions | [21] |
| 2024–25 (team) |
All-Filipino | 1st (10–1, 29 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Chery Tiggo, 2–0 Finished 2nd in semifinals (2–1, 6 pts) Lost in championship vs. Petro Gazz, 1–2 |
Runner-up | [22] |
| PVL on Tour | 2nd (3–2, 10 pts) (Pool B) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Farm Fresh, 3–0 Lost in semifinals vs. PLDT, 2–3 Won in third place match vs. Cignal, 3–0 |
3rd place | [23] | |
| Invitational | 4th (2–3, 5 pts) | Won in third place match vs. Chery Tiggo, 3–0 | 3rd place | [24] | |
| Reinforced | 4th (5–3, 17 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Petro Gazz, 1–3 | 6th place | [25] | |
| 2026 (team) |
All-Filipino | 3rd (6–3, 16 pts) | Lost in qualifying vs. Cignal, 2–3 Won in Play-in final (Pool B) vs. Akari, 3–1 Finished 2nd in semifinals (2–1, 5 pts) Won in championship vs. Cignal, 2–0 |
Champions | [26] |
AVC Women's Volleyball Champions League
| Year | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2025 | 2nd (1–1, 3 pts) (Pool A) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Nakhon Ratchasima | 8th place | [27][28] |
Individual awards
PVL awardees
- Most Valuable Player
| Year | Conference | Player | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Reinforced | Alyssa Valdez | |
| 2018 | Open | ||
| 2019 | Reinforced | ||
| Open | Jema Galanza | ||
| 2022 | Open | Tots Carlos | |
| Invitational | |||
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | ||
| 2024 | Reinforced | Bernadeth Pons | |
| Invitational | Michele Gumabao |
- Finals Most Valuable Player
| Year | Conference | Player | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Reinforced | Jia de Guzman | |
| Open | |||
| 2019 | Open | ||
| 2022 | Open | Alyssa Valdez | |
| Invitational | Ced Domingo | ||
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | Jia de Guzman | |
| 2nd All-Filipino | Tots Carlos | ||
| 2024 | All-Filipino | Jema Galanza | |
| Reinforced | Bernadeth Pons | ||
| Invitational | Kyle Negrito | ||
| 2026 | All-Filipino | Bernadeth Pons |
- 1st Best Outside Hitter
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Reinforced | Alyssa Valdez |
| 2018 | Reinforced | |
| Open | ||
| 2019 | Open | Jema Galanza |
| 2021 | Open | Alyssa Valdez |
| 2022 | Invitational | |
| Reinforced | ||
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | Tots Carlos |
| 2024–25 | PVL on Tour | Alyssa Valdez |
| Invitational | Jema Galanza |
- 2nd Best Outside Hitter
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Open | Jema Galanza |
| 2019 | Reinforced | Alyssa Valdez |
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | Jema Galanza |
| Invitational | Alyssa Valdez | |
| 2nd All-Filipino | Jema Galanza | |
| 2024 | All-Filipino | |
| Invitational | Erica Staunton | |
| 2024–25 | All-Filipino | Bernadeth Pons |
- 1st Best Middle Blocker
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2nd All-Filipino | Jeanette Panaga |
| 2024–25 | PVL on Tour | |
| Invitational | ||
| 2026 | All-Filipino |
- 2nd Best Middle Blocker
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Invitational | Ced Domingo |
| 2024 | All-Filipino | Jeanette Panaga |
| 2024–25 | All-Filipino | Bea de Leon |
| Reinforced | Jeanette Panaga |
- Best Opposite Hitter
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Reinforced | Michele Gumabao |
| 2022 | Open | Tots Carlos |
| Invitational | ||
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | Michele Gumabao |
| Invitational | Tots Carlos | |
| 2nd All-Filipino | Michele Gumabao |
- Best Setter
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Open | Jia de Guzman |
| 2018 | Reinforced | |
| Open | ||
| 2019 | Reinforced | |
| Open | ||
| 2021 | Open | |
| 2022 | Reinforced | |
| 2023 | 1st All-Filipino | |
| 2024 | All-Filipino | Kyle Negrito |
| Invitational | ||
| 2024–25 | All-Filipino | |
| PVL on Tour |
- Best Libero
| Year | Conference | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Open | Kyla Atienza |
- PVL Press Corps awardees
| Year | Award | Player | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Best Outside Hitter | Bernadeth Pons | |
| Best Middle Blocker | Bea de Leon |
Imports
| Season | Number | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 11 | Laura Schaudt |  USA
|
| 16 | Kuttika Kaewpin |  Thailand
| |
| 2018 | 1 | Nikolina Aščerić (withdrew) |  Serbia
|
| 18 | Kuttika Kaewpin | Thailand
| |
| 21 | Laura Schaudt | USA
| |
| 2019 | 16 | Kuttika Kaewpin | Thailand
|
| 18 | Aleoscar Blanco |  Venezuela
| |
| 2022 | 21 | Yeliz Başa |  Turkey
|
| 2024 | 22 | Erica Staunton [29][30] | USA
|
| 2025 AVC CL | 22 | ||
| 5 | Anastassiya Kolomoyets [31] |  Kazakhstan
| |
| 3 | Anastasya Kudryashova [31] |  Russia
| |
| 2025 | 22 | Courtney Schwan [32][33] | USA
|
Team captains
- Alyssa Valdez (2017 – present)
- Jia de Guzman (2026) – Interim captain
- Michele Gumabao (2024) – Interim captain
Coaches
Former players
|
Local players
|
Foreign players
|
Draft history
| Season | Pick No. | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | Aleiah Torres |
| 2025 | 12 | Sheena Toring |
| 23 | Maria Dannica Celis |
References
- ^ Villar, Joey (February 28, 2017). "Valdez to banner Creamline PVL debut". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ "Meneses takes over Creamline's coaching reins from Bundit". February 17, 2022.
- ^ Isaga, JR (April 8, 2022). "Creamline completes perfect PVL conference with Petro Gazz finals sweep". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (August 14, 2022). "Creamline schools KingWhale to clinch PVL Invitational crown". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ "PVL Invitational Champion to represent the Philippines in the AVC Cup". CNN Philippines. August 8, 2022. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (August 19, 2022). "Alyssa Valdez to miss the AVC Cup campaign". Inquirer Sports. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "Creamline finishes 6th in AVC Cup for women". Panay News. August 31, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ Isaga, JR (November 29, 2022). "Chery Tiggo ends Creamline's Grand Slam bid as Petro Gazz clinches PVL finals". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (December 6, 2022). "Creamline sweeps Chery for PVL bronze; Valdez goes down with injury". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ Isaga, JR (March 31, 2023). "Alyssa Valdez proud of Creamline's gutsy finals stand, first title win without her". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ Isaga, JR (July 30, 2023). "Japan's Kurashiki topples Creamline dynasty, wins historic PVL title". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ Caacbay, Kennedy (December 16, 2023). "Sheer dominance: Creamline asserts mastery of Choco Mucho to claim all-Filipino crown". ABS-CBN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ^ Micaller, Bea (May 12, 2024). "Creamline survives Choco Mucho for record-extending 8th PVL title". GMA News Online. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Demigillo, Kiko (September 4, 2024). "'MVPons' finally real as Bernadeth Pons takes home PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors". One Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Micaller, Bea (September 9, 2024). "Creamline rolls past Cignal to punch PVL Invitational finals ticket, nears Grand Slam". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ Isaga, JR (September 12, 2024). "Untouchable Creamline completes PVL Grand Slam, record 10th title in five-set Cignal stunner". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ "'Everything to gain': Alyssa Valdez not dwelling on Creamline's early AVC exit". Rappler. November 24, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (August 31, 2025). "Creamline secures 19th straight podium finish in PVL but far from done, says Michele Gumabao". One Sports. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
- ^ "Petro Gazz deals Creamline's worst-ever PVL finish to clinch semis spot". ABS-CBN. November 24, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ^ "Creamline regains All-Filipino crown for 11th PVL title". The Manila Times. April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ^ "Creamline serves up a 'Grand Slam' finish". Premier Volleyball League. September 12, 2024. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ "From the brink to the throne: Petro Gazz stuns Creamline in epic 4-set triumph". Premier Volleyball League. April 12, 2025. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
- ^ "Creamline turns Set 2 heartbreak into heroics, bags bronze". Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Creamline overwhelms Chery Tiggo, secures bronze". Retrieved August 31, 2025.
- ^ "'Typhoon' Pablo strikes as Petro Gazz ousts Creamline, reaches semis". Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ "Creamline reclaims PVL supremacy after three title-less conferences". Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- ^ "Nakhon Ratchasima ousts Creamline, seals semis duel vs Zhetysu". Premier Volleyball League. April 24, 2025. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ Garcia, John Mark (April 29, 2025). "Creamline ends up as lowest-ranked PH team in AVC Champions League". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (June 20, 2024). "PVL: Creamline taps Erica Staunton as import for Reinforced tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Erica Staunton returns to reinforce Creamline for AVC Women's Champions League". Premier Volleyball League. April 3, 2025. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ a b "Creamline completes import trio for AVC Champions League". Premier Volleyball League. April 15, 2025. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- ^ "Creamline signs Courtney Schwan for Reinforced Conference". Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Dannug, Jonash (September 10, 2025). "Creamline taps Courtney Schwan for PVL Reinforced redemption bid". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
- ^ Escarlote, Mark (December 8, 2018). "PVL: How tough love and Kutsinta created special bond among Bundit, Valdez and Morado". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Escarlote, Mark (May 29, 2019). "PVL: Cool Smashers score bounce back win". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
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