MANILA, Philippines — Savi Davison and the PLDT High Speed Hitters are not finished yet.
After eliminating Creamline’s hopes of reaching the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference Finals in a dramatic five-set showdown, PLDT will face the Cool Smashers once again—this time with the bronze medal at stake.
The rematch is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, according to the official Premier Volleyball League schedule.
The stakes changed quickly after PLDT stunned Creamline, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12, on Sunday night.
The victory gave both teams identical 3-2 records, but Nxled secured the second Finals berth through the tournament’s tiebreak system. EST Cola topped the standings at 4-1 and advanced directly to the championship match.
For PLDT, however, the defeat of Creamline was more than just a statement win. It created another opportunity to finish the conference with a medal.
And Davison is showing no signs of easing up.
Davison delivers another monster performance
Davison carried PLDT on her shoulders during the five-set thriller, exploding for a career-high 37 points on 35 attacks and two blocks.
She also contributed 24 receptions and 18 digs, underlining her value not only as PLDT’s primary offensive weapon but also as one of its key defensive players.
The Filipino-Canadian star had already shown her scoring form earlier in the conference.
Just two days before the Creamline match, Davison poured in 32 points—28 attacks and four blocks—in PLDT’s four-set victory over Farm Fresh.
That win kept the defending champions alive in the race for the Finals.
But the road became even tougher against Creamline.
Another battle against a loaded Creamline side
Creamline entered the final preliminary-round match with a strong 3-1 record and a chance to secure a place in the championship game.
PLDT eventually spoiled that bid.
Despite losing the third set and falling behind in the match, the High Speed Hitters fought back to force a deciding fifth set before pulling away for the victory.
Jovielyn Prado and Kianna Dy each contributed 14 points, while Mika Reyes added 11. Prado also posted 14 digs and 14 receptions and was named Player of the Game by the PVL.
Creamline was led by Jaja Santiago-Minowa, who produced 25 points, including 15 attacks, nine blocks and one ace. Jema Galanza added 20 points, while Michele Gumabao finished with 11.
The numbers explain why Tuesday’s bronze-medal rematch could be another battle of attrition.
No room for complacency
PLDT coach Rald Ricafort acknowledged that facing Creamline again will be difficult.
The two teams have already gone through a physically demanding five-set encounter, but there is little time to recover before meeting again with a medal on the line.
That makes PLDT’s mental approach just as important as its physical preparation.
Davison has already emphasized that Creamline cannot be reduced to a single player. While Santiago-Minowa presents an imposing challenge at the net, the Cool Smashers have multiple offensive threats capable of changing the course of a match.
That depth was evident in the preliminary-round contest, when Galanza also delivered 20 points.
For PLDT, the formula will likely revolve around maintaining Davison’s offensive production while limiting Creamline’s transition game and controlling Santiago-Minowa at the net.
Bronze becomes the new target
The defending champions will now have to settle for a battle for the second runner-up position, but the opportunity still carries significance.
PLDT currently sits among the tournament’s top performers, with Davison leading the conference in scoring at 135 points following the preliminary round.
Creamline, meanwhile, will be looking to respond immediately after suffering consecutive defeats following its impressive 3-0 start.
That sets the stage for another high-stakes meeting between two of the PVL’s biggest teams.
This time, there will be no Finals berth to chase.
There will be bronze.
And after producing 37 points to knock Creamline out of the championship race, Davison and PLDT now have one more challenge: beat the Cool Smashers one more time and finish the conference on the podium.
The PLDT-Creamline bronze-medal match is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, ahead of the championship showdown between Nxled and Thailand’s EST Cola at 6:30 p.m.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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