Creamline Cool Smashers. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Creamline has tapped seasoned Turkish spiker Yeliz Basa for its grand slam bid in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, which opens on October 8.
Basa, a 6-foot-2 wing hitter, attended the Cool Smashers’ team photoshoot on Saturday.
The 35-year-old Basa played for the Turkey national team and had stints in the Japan V.League with the NEC Red Rockets and Thailand Volleyball League with Nakhon Ratchasima. She also saw action in Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Czech Republic.
She last played for Bodrumspor and Anthea Vicenza before signing to Creamline.
Basa’s experience and achievements boost the Cool Smashers’ bid for a third straight title this season after ruling the Open Conference and Invitationals.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses will have a beautiful problem on his wing spiker rotation as Basa joins two-time MVP Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Michele Gumabao.
Meanwhile, Chery Tiggo signed Jelena Cvijovic from Montenegro as it seeks to rise from back-to-back eighth-place finishes in the first two conferences.
The 6-foot-1 outside hitter played in Serbia, Romania, Greece, and Turkey. Her recent stint before joining the Crossovers was with the SCM U Craiova in the 2021-2022 Romanian League.
The Montenegrin national team player teams up with Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Mylene Paat. Chery Tiggo also signed newcomers Jaycel Delos Reyes, France Ronquillo, and Rachelle Roldan.
Choco Mucho also officially welcomed Odina Aliyeva while Akari signed Prisilla Rivera. PLDT brought in Elina Savkina-Samoilenko while Cignal secured the services of Tai Bierria.
Petro Gazz will be fielding in Canadian Lindsey Vander Weide for its title-retention bid, while Lindsay Stalzer will be returning for F2 Logistics.