The Creamline Cool Smashers showed on Thursday, November 9, why they are the defending champions of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

They beat fellow powerhouse Petro Gazz, in a five-set marathon, 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13, to stay undefeated at 5-0 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Meanwhile, the Angels fell to 4-2.

Tots Carlos finished as Creamline’s second-leading scorer with 16 points behind Michele Gumabao’s 19, and rose to the occasion after a series of successful hits, including the game-winner, in the final set.

Grethcel Soltones and Jonah Sabete had 23- and 22-point performances for Petro Gazz, respectively.

Both squads saw a tightly-contested fight, with the scoring still tied at 18-18 late in the fourth set.

Despite Jeanette Panaga committing a service error to give Petro Gazz a one-point lead, Creamline went on a 7-1 run, starting with Carlos’ back-to-back hits to give her squad the lead, 19-18.

Bernadeth Pons contributed through an attack, and another outside hit by Petro Gazz gave a point to the Cool Smashers.

Carlos and Pons’ consecutive kills paved the way for the Cool Smashers to send the match to a decider.

This was the first time that Creamline went to five sets at this conference.

The pink shirts had an 8-4 lead in the last frame, and further extended it via a successful foot fault challenge.

However, the gritty Angels fought back, scoring consecutive points to reduce the gap courtesy of Chie Saet and Soltones, 10-7.

Jema Galanza pushed Creamline ahead, 11-7, before the Angels won the next three points to make it a one-point game, 11-10.

Back-to-back hits by Galanza and Pons gave Creamline some breathing room, before a Sabete kill kept the Angels alive, 13-11.

Unfortunately, for the Gazz Angels, Remy Palma committed a service error that put Creamline at match point, 14-11.

An Aiza Maizo-Pontillas hit and a Creamline miscue briefly kept Petro Gazz in the hunt, but Carlos drilled a down-the-line kill to complete the win for the Cool Smashers. (ABS-CBN News)