Cool Smashers flex muscle in 68-minute rout of Highrisers

ILAGAN, Isabela – Coming off a grueling, hard-fought victory earlier in the week, the Creamline Cool Smashers turned their weekend road assignment into a showcase of dominance, breezing past a hapless Galeries Tower side with a clinical 25-9, 25-11, 25-15 sweep before a lively crowd at the Capital Arena late Saturday.

The defending champions made the most of what looked more like a tune-up game than a competitive clash, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks from all angles and sealing the most lopsided win in the conference – an outcome that felt inevitable just two weeks into its fast-paced, eight-week run.

The Cool Smashers improved to 2-1, keeping pace with Petro Gazz at third in Pool B behind unbeaten leaders ZUS Coffee and Akari.

“Everyone came to play, everybody got a little bit of playing time and everybody did a great job,” said Creamline import Coco Schwan, who scattered 14 points in their 68-minute romp.

Crowd favorite Alyssa Valdez delivered 10 points, including two aces, while Rose Vargas notched a career-high eight points. Tots Carlos and Pangs Panaga chipped in five points each in limited action – Carlos in a single set and Panaga across three.

Michele Gumabao, Sheena Toring and Michele Gamit added four points each.

The Cool Smashers dominated offensively, overwhelming the Highrisers in attacks, 42-17. They also tallied nine blocks to Galeries Tower’s four and outserved their opponents with six aces compared to five.

Creamline also pounced on Galeries Tower’s errors, scoring 18 points off unforced mistakes while committing only nine of their own.

Galeries Tower import Jelena Cvijovic struggled to find her rhythm, finishing with just six points. Local player Jean Asis stepped up with seven, outscoring Cvijovic, while France Ronquillo and Dim Pacres contributed five and four points, respectively, as the Highrisers dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

From the opening serve, Creamline’s overwhelming edge in power, experience and chemistry was on full display. Led by Schwan and Valdez, Gumabao, Panaga and Carlos, the Cool Smashers delivered a masterclass in offensive execution and defensive control.

Their crisp ball movement, aggressive serving and airtight net defense left the Highrisers with no answers – and seemingly no hope.

While Creamline’s previous match against Petro Gazz – a thrilling four-set slugfest – tested their resolve and composure, this one hardly felt like a contest.

Galeries Tower, still winless in the tournament, looked outclassed at every turn, struggling to respond to Creamline’s loaded serves and unable to break through a formidable front line that blocked and disrupted at will.

The second set provided a fleeting glimmer of competitiveness when the Highrisers managed to force a tie at 6. But just as quickly, the Cool Smashers turned up the heat, stringing together a run of blistering hits and aces that completely unraveled their opponents. Galeries’ inability to receive cleanly led to a flurry of overpasses and poor setups, extinguishing any momentum they had briefly gained.

Creamline’s depth was evident, too. With each substitution or rotation, the level of play remained consistently high – a luxury that few teams in the league can boast. Their bench players slotted in seamlessly, allowing head coach Sherwin Meneses to manage minutes while still keeping the pressure on.

Set 3 followed a familiar script – Creamline raced to an early lead, taking eight of the first 11 points, while Galeries Tower continued to struggle, clearly out of sync and overwhelmed by the league’s powerhouse. Their trip from the Big City to the north felt far longer than the brief time they spent battling on the court.

Another blistering 6-0 run blew the set wide open once more. Though the Highrisers managed to halt the surge with a brief spurt – three straight points from Pacres and an ace from Cvijovic trimming the deficit to 7-16, then inching closer at 10-18 – Creamline’s second unit of Vargas, Lorie Bernardo and Mafe Galanza slammed the door shut. They sealed the deal with a 7-5 finishing run, capped by a quick hit from Toring.

Still, the more than 6,000 fans in attendance left satisfied, cheering every Creamline point with the same energy, even as each hit began to resemble a practice drill against the token resistance offered by the Highrisers.

The rout not only reaffirmed Creamline’s place among the title contenders but also served notice that when firing on all cylinders, they remain a cut above the rest – especially against teams still searching for identity, chemistry and leadership.

With two weeks gone in the year-ending conference, Creamline has shifted into a higher gear – one that lesser opponents are simply not equipped to handle.