Guest team Est Cola of Thailand weathered a scorching fourth set fightback by Creamline in a crucial, 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25, escape to build its case for a championship berth in the 2026-2027 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Thais displayed grace under pressure in the tight endgame after squandering an eight-point lead and going down by a point to salvage their third straight win in four games and tie their victim on top of the standings.

Phontham Papatchaya fired 27 points on 24 kills, two kill blocks and an ace while adding 12 digs for Est Cola, which outgunned the 11-time PVL champion on attacks, 57-48.

Moonjakham Nannaphat added 16 markers and Srikuta Nirarach scored 12 for the guest squad. Ankomah Serah tallied 13 excellent sets for Est Cola, which can secure a winner-take-all championship berth with a win over Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.      

The Thais built an 16-8 advantage in the fourth frame before the Cool Smashers mounted a counterattack to tie it at 23 after a Jaja Santiago-Minowa ace.

Est Cola regained the lead and moved at match point, 24-23, before Bea De Leon scored a kill block followed by a four-touch infraction by the Thais as Creamline took set point advantage.

Saeleo Natnicha tied it at 25 followed by a Moonjakham off-speed hit as Est Cola took another match point advantage. Saelao finished off the Cool Smashers with a kill block over Tots Carlos.

“Personally, I don’t feel nervous or anything. I just feel like we play it point by point and stay in the game. It’s not really that the crowd noise pressures us, but the cheering does have an effect. We tried to keep control of the team more,” Phontham Papatchaya said.

Minowa led Creamline with 19 points, Jema Galanza scored 15 with 16 excellent receptions and 15 digs, while Alyssa Valdez finished with 11 markers and 11 excellent receptions.

The Cool Smashers face defending champion PLDT (2-2) on Sunday in what could decider for one of the championship seats.