Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate after winning the PVL Invitational Conference title. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After earning its second Premier Volleyball League championship this season, Creamline will represent the Philippines in the AVC Cup for Women from August 21 to 29 at PhilSports Arena.
PVL president Ricky Palou has confirmed that the Cool Smashers’ management has accepted the offer to carry the national flag in the continental tournament after ruling the Invitational Conference.
Palou, who is also a board member and treasurer of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, added that the stakeholders and officials will still meet regarding the 12-man line-up since Creamline has 14 players, while the national pool has two remaining players in Jelai Gajero and Trisha Genesis.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is elated for the rare chance to represent the country.
“We’re ready,” Meneses said in Filipino. “It will be a huge benefit and great opportunity for our team.”
Alyssa Valdez, Conference MVP Tots Carlos and Finals MVP Celine Domingo are also raring to play for the country as part of a club team, which has been together since last year.
“I’m very excited for everyone. Because not all players from our team we’re exposed or given this opportunity to play for the national team and now we’re given this opportunity as a team, as a club team, and we’re really glad to accept it and we’ll really try to maximize everything and learn from it as a team also and as an individual,” said Valdez, who has been playing for the senior’s national team since 2015.
“We’re looking forward. Very limited preparation but we’re just gonna give our best and hopefully all the Filipinos, all the volleyball supporters will be there to support us and welcome all the other teams,” she added.
Carlos can’t wait to don the Philippine jersey for the first time in an international tournament.
“We’re really happy. Same with ate Ly, not all are given the chance to represent or to be in the national team. We’re glad that the whole team will play and we’ll really give our best to give a good fight against every team,” Carlos said in Filipino.
Domingo is also not shying away from the opportunity.
“Challenge accepted,” Domingo said.
“Personally, I’m so happy that I get to represent the country again. We will do our best to raise the flag of the Philippines,” added Domingo, who played for the national youth team in 2019.
Jia De Guzman, Kyle Negrito, Michele Gumabao, and Jema Galanza may be playing for the national team anew, while the rest of the Cool Smashers are mostly newcomers as the best local PVL team was tapped to replace the core of National University after the federation released the young Lady Bulldogs.
The Philippines will kick off its AVC Cup hosting against Vietnam on August 21 before clashing with China on August 23, Iran on August 24 and South Korea on August 25.
The knockout quarterfinals are set on August 27 with the semifinals slated a day later. The qualification matches and final are scheduled on August 29.