PVL 2026: Kyle Negrito shines in surprise start as Creamline ousts Akari for semifinal return
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses took everyone by surprise when he chose Kyle Negrito as the Cool Smashers’ starting setter in their do-or-die play-in match against Akari in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, April 7.
Negrito has spent most of the conference on the bench since decorated playmaker Jia De Guzman returned from her stint in Japan’s SV.League. De Guzman, who serves as Alas Pilipinas captain, leads the league in setting with an average of 5.44 sets per set. Beyond her numbers, the former Ateneo de Manila University standout brings leadership and experience to Creamline.
Her return came at the right time. The Cool Smashers failed to defend their titles after completing the league's first-ever Grand Slam run in 2024. They also saw their 19-straight podium finish streak end last season after being eliminated by eventual champion Petro Gazz Angels in the Reinforced Conference.
Back in her role as backup setter, Negrito made the most of her rare start, reminding everyone of what she's capable of. She towed Creamline back to the semifinals with 23 excellent sets and six points, helping the team eliminate Akari, 25-23, 25-20, 16-25, 25-16, in a win-or-go-home showdown.
Despite carrying the burden of anchoring one of the league’s most exciting offenses in such a high-pressure scenario, Negrito said it wasn’t new to her.
“Sinunod ko lang po 'yung sinabi ni coach [Meneses]. ‘Di na rin naman po bago ‘yung naging game plan namin. Na-experience ko na rin po ‘yung mga ganyang do-or-die na big games,” Negrito told reporters in the post-match media conference, as quoted by the Tiebreaker Times.
“'Yun nga po, nag-work 'yung game plan and confident po ako kasi alam ko na tutulungan ako ng mga teammates ko,” she added.
In recent years, Negrito has faced skepticism and criticism while stepping in for De Guzman, who tested her mettle in Japan’s top-tier women’s league. Pressure could break even the toughest athletes, but the Cavite native has learned to ignore the noise.
“Sabi nga ni [Coach Sherwin], dedma raw. Ako, 'yung mga kasama ko lang din pinanghahawakan ko. Binabalik ko lang din talaga 'yung tiwala na binibigay nila sa akin and I’m happy na nag-result siya,” she said in a previous interview after leading Creamline to the 2024 Invitational Conference title, as reported by PVL Media Bureau.
At that tournament, Negrito was named Finals Most Valuable Player for the first time in her professional career and also bagged the Best Setter accolade. Beyond individual recognition, she kept the team's engine running in De Guzman's absence as Creamline swept the 2024 season by winning all three conferences.
For the former Far Eastern University setter, much of her growth came under Meneses.
“Kahit kailan hindi niya pinaramdam sa 'kin na hindi niya ako pinressure. Talagang 'pag nagkakamali ako, talagang sinasabi niya na 'sige, okay lang,'” Negrito said in a One Sports feature. “Kaya grabe rin talaga 'yung pasalamat ko kay coach She [Meneses] kasi siya talaga 'yung nagtiyaga and nag-guide talaga sa akin.”
The respect stems from the trust Meneses and the rest of Creamline have given her through ups and downs. In a sport where connection and communication are key, individuals must stand united toward a shared goal. Creamline has cultivated this culture for years, which is why they are the winningest PVL club with 10 titles.
This environment molded Negrito into a breakout star. Against Akari, she didn’t just help Creamline inch closer to the promised land—she also made a strong case for herself, showing through her performance that Kyle Negrito is here to stay.
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