Creamline–Petro Gazz rivalry

Creamline–Petro Gazz rivalry
Teams
First meetingMay 6, 2018
Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz
Latest meetingNovember 24, 2025
Petro Gazz 3–1 Creamline
Statistics
Meetings total39
All-time series28–11 (CCS)
Longest win streakCCS W14
Current win streakPGA W1
Finals history

The Creamline–Petro Gazz rivalry was a Premier Volleyball League (PVL) rivalry between the Creamline Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz Angels. Until 2025, both teams were among the longest-tenured in the PVL and combine for 13 of the league's titles, facing each other in the championship in five of those occasions.

The two teams have met each other a total of 39 times, which included 13 games in the Finals. Creamline led the all-time series with a 28–11 record.

History

Background

The Creamline Cool Smashers, owned by Rebisco, joined the Premier Volleyball League in 2017 as one of its founding teams.[1] The Petro Gazz Angels, owned by PetroGazz Ventures Phils., joined the PVL the following season in 2018.[2] Both teams are the two longest-tenured in the PVL.

2018–2019: Early history and first championship series

The first meeting between the two teams happened during the opening day of the 2018 Reinforced Conference on May 6, 2018.[3] The match was won by Creamline in straight sets. In the following Open Conference, the two teams met in the final round for the first time. Creamline swept Petro Gazz in the semifinals in two games on their way to their second title. In the 2019 Reinforced Conference, the two teams met in the championship for the first time, with Petro Gazz beating Creamline in three games to clinch their first-ever league title.[4]

2019–2023: Creamline dominance

Following the 2019 Reinforced Conference, the rivalry would largely be dominated by Creamline. From the 2019 Open Conference to the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, Creamline would go 17–1 against Petro Gazz. That stretch included three championship series.

The second championship series between the two teams happened in the 2019 Open Conference. Creamline not only swept the series, but also won both games in straight sets.[5] The next championship series happened in the 2022 Open Conference, which once again featured a Creamline sweep.[6] This is then followed by their championship series in the 2023 First All-Filipino Conference, but this time around, Petro Gazz were able to win the first game of the series, giving the Cool Smashers their first loss against the Angels since the 2019 Reinforced Conference championship. However, Creamline went on to win the next two games to claim their sixth title.[7] After the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, Creamline led 23–5 in games against Petro Gazz.

2024–present: End of rivalry

After four years of Creamline dominance, the series began to equalize as both teams would split the season series in 2024 with two wins apiece, going 1–1 in both the All-Filipino and Reinforced conferences. In the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, the two teams met once again in the championship.[8] The first two games of the series reached five sets with Petro Gazz winning the first and Creamline winning the second. In the third game, in four sets, the Angels clinched their third title and their second against the Cool Smashers.[9]

On November 24, 2025, during the quarterfinals of the 2025 Reinforced Conference, Petro Gazz defeated Creamline in four sets, which ended the latter's streak of 19 straight podium finishes.[10] On January 10, 2026, Petro Gazz took a leave of absence, thus putting a stop to the rivalry.[11] However, a majority of the disbanded Angels roster were signed by the Nxled Chameleons, potentially setting up its spiritual successor.[12]

Records by season and conference

Season Season series Conference Conference series Overall series
2018 Creamline, 4–1 Reinforced Creamline, 1–0 Creamline, 4–1
Open Creamline, 3–1
2019 Creamline, 6–3 Reinforced Petro Gazz, 3–2 Creamline, 10–4
Open Creamline, 4–0
2021 Creamline, 3–0 Open Creamline, 3–0 Creamline, 13–4
2022 Creamline, 6–0 Open Creamline, 3–0 Creamline, 19–4
Invitational Creamline, 1–0
Reinforced Creamline, 2–0
2023 Creamline, 4–1 First All-Filipino Creamline, 3–1 Creamline, 23–5
Second All-Filipino Creamline, 1–0
2024 Tie, 2–2 All-Filipino Tie, 1–1 Creamline, 25–7
Reinforced Tie, 1–1
2024–25 Petro Gazz, 4–3 All-Filipino Petro Gazz, 3–2 Creamline, 28–11
Reinforced Tie, 1–1

Head-to-head records

Season Conference Stage Date Score Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5 Total
2018 Reinforced Preliminary round May 6, 2018 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–18 25–16 25–13 75–47
Open Preliminary round September 29, 2018 Creamline 2–3 Petro Gazz 25–27 25–17 23–25 25–19 5–15 103–103
November 21, 2018 Petro Gazz 0–3 Creamline 11–25 13–25 23–25 47–75
Semifinals November 28, 2018 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 26–28 25–15 25–13 25–16 101–72
December 1, 2018 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 25–21 18–25 21–25 13–25 77–96
2019 Reinforced Preliminary round May 26, 2019 Petro Gazz 3–0 Creamline 25–22 26–24 25–22 76–68
June 22, 2019 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 18–25 25–21 19–25 24–26 86–97
Championship July 10, 2019 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 26–24 16–25 16–25 22–25 80–99
July 13, 2019 Creamline 1–3 Petro Gazz 25–15 22–25 22–25 12–25 81–90
July 14, 2019 Petro Gazz 3–1 Creamline 25–15 28–30 25–23 25–19 103–87
Open Preliminary round August 24, 2019 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–19 28–26 25–20 78–65
October 13, 2019 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 21–25 24–26 25–19 18–25 88–95
Championship November 6, 2019 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–14 25–22 27–25 77–61
November 9, 2019 Petro Gazz 0–3 Creamline 27–29 22–25 25–27 74–81
2021 Open Preliminary round July 20, 2021 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 24–26 28–26 25–22 25–20 102–94
Semifinals August 8, 2021 Petro Gazz 2–3 Creamline 29–27 23–25 25–16 17–25 14–16 108–109
August 9, 2021 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 27–25 25–22 25–16 77–63
2022 Open Preliminary round March 23, 2022 Petro Gazz 2–3 Creamline 23–25 25–23 19–25 25–23 10–15 102–111
Championship April 6, 2022 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 16–25 25–23 12–25 30–32 83–105
April 8, 2022 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 25–18 15–25 25–23 25–16 90–82
Invitational Preliminary round July 12, 2022 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 25–22 23–25 25–22 25–20 98–89
Reinforced Preliminary round October 18, 2022 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 25–19 16–25 25–18 27–25 93–87
Semifinals November 24, 2022 Petro Gazz 0–3 Creamline 21–25 20–25 23–25 64–75
2023 First All-Filipino Preliminary round February 4, 2023 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–18 25–20 25–22 75–60
Championship March 26, 2023 Creamline 1–3 Petro Gazz 22–25 26–24 23–25 24–26 95–100
March 28, 2023 Petro Gazz 2–3 Creamline 25–18 16–25 18–25 25–23 6–15 90–106
March 30, 2023 Creamline 3–1 Petro Gazz 20–25 25–20 25–18 25–15 95–78
Second All-Filipino Preliminary round November 9, 2023 Creamline 3–2 Petro Gazz 25–22 23–25 25–27 25–19 15–13 113–106
2024 All-Filipino Preliminary round April 6, 2024 Petro Gazz 3–2 Creamline 15–25 25–18 24–26 25–19 15–13 104–101
Semifinals May 2, 2024 Petro Gazz 1–3 Creamline 25–27 25–23 25–27 24–26 99–103
Reinforced Second round August 13, 2024 Creamline 2–3 Petro Gazz 23–25 19–25 25–20 25–23 12–15 104–108
Quarterfinals August 27, 2024 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–23 25–19 25–18 75–60
2024–25 All-Filipino Preliminary round November 16, 2024 Creamline 3–0 Petro Gazz 25–19 25–22 25–16 75–57
Semifinals March 29, 2025 Creamline 1–3 Petro Gazz 23–25 22–25 25–21 16–25 86–96
Championship April 8, 2025 Creamline 2–3 Petro Gazz 17–25 20–25 25–18 25–20 10–15 97–103
April 10, 2025 Petro Gazz 2–3 Creamline 15–25 25–16 21–25 25–15 9–15 95–96
April 12, 2025 Creamline 1–3 Petro Gazz 21–25 16–25 25–23 19–25 81–98

References

  1. ^ Villar, Joey (February 28, 2017). "Valdez to banner Creamline PVL debut". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "Petro Gazz goes full throttle in PVL preps". Fastbreak. March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  3. ^ "PVL Season 2 fires away on ABS-CBN S+A this Sunday". ABS-CBN. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  4. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (July 14, 2019). "Petro Gazz completes comeback against Creamline for breakthrough PVL title". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Lozada, Mei-Lin (November 9, 2019). "Creamline rips Petro Gazz to complete rare PVL Open conference sweep". Spin.ph. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  6. ^ Isaga, JR (April 8, 2022). "Creamline completes perfect PVL conference with Petro Gazz finals sweep". RAPPLER. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  7. ^ Bolima, Martin Dale (March 30, 2023). "Creamline tops Petro Gazz in classic PVL All-Filipino finals to win sixth title in franchise history". onesports.ph. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  8. ^ Demigillo, Kiko (April 3, 2025). "Petro Gazz, Creamline renew rivalry in championship series for PVL All-Filipino crown". One Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  9. ^ Dannug, Jonash (April 12, 2025). "Heaven Sent: Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline to win first PVL All-Filipino title". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  10. ^ Demigillo, Kiko (November 24, 2025). "Petro Gazz dethrones Creamline to reach PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals". One Sports. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  11. ^ Garcia, John Mark (January 10, 2026). "BVS, Phillips now free agents as Petro Gazz goes on LOA". SPIN.ph. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  12. ^ Garcia, John Mark (January 22, 2026). "LIST: PVL All-Filipino Conference's seven must-watch games". SPIN.ph. Retrieved January 25, 2026. Nxled's first meeting with the Cool Smashers this season could offer fans a glimpse of a 'second coming' of the long-running Creamline–Petro Gazz rivalry that has shaped multiple championships and eras in the PVL.