Creamline Cool Smashers.’ Jema Galanza. –PVL PHOTO
If Creamline had its way, the team would get back at a previous tormentor for a painful loss inflicted on it in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
But coach Sherwin Meneses knows that’s not how the conference is built.
“We’re not easily going to avenge our loss right away because we only play one round,” he said. “We just moved on right away.”
So to ease the pang of a painful loss to rival F2 logistics recently, the Cool Smashers took on another tack.
“Of course, the motivation is there (to bounce back). But we targeted to do it step by step and point by point,” Meneses said.
Step one was a 17-25, 25-11, 25-19, 25-21 victory over fellow heavyweight Chery Tiggo at Philsports Arena on Saturday, a win fueled by the 25 points of Jema Galanza on the same day that the team announced star Alyssa Valdez had a procedure on her injured knee.
Michele Gumabao added 17 points for Creamline, which improved to 4-1 for the tournament, good for the lead in a conference that is shaping up to be a thrilling battle for the top spot.
“That’s how it is because Creamline is not the only team that prepares,” Meneses said. “Every team prepares. We’ll think about round two some other time.”
Ced Domingo finished with 16 for the Cool Smashers, who regrouped after the Crossovers got a jump on them in the first set.
Creamline immediately bounced back with a dominant second set before parrying several Chery Tiggo runs in the final two sets to ice the victory.
Chery Tiggo dropped to a 3-2 card. Before the game, Creamline confirmed that Valdez underwent an unspecified knee “procedure.” The Cool Smashers posted on their official Twitter account that Valdez sought medical help to help her “come back stronger.”
The Cool Smashers also drew solid performances from Jia de Guzman, who ran the offense fluidly with her 34 excellent sets, and Kyla Atienza, whose floor coverage produced 20 excellent digs.
“It was tiring, but for the team, we needed extra effort and extra defense,” said Atienza.