Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jema Galanza. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—One of the finest cities down south rolled out the red carpet for the visiting Premier Volleyball League (PVL), which will host an All-Filipino Conference doubleheader here.
Fans of the southern port hub gave a warm welcome to players from Creamline, PLDT, Akari, and Gerflor, who will see action at Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center on Saturday.
The volleyball stars had a meet-and-greet with their fans before paying a courtesy call on Mayor Rolando Uy at Cagayan de Oro City Hall, where the officials and staff led by PVL president Ricky Palou and chairman Tonyboy Liao had lunch.
Creamline, which remained unbeaten in six games despite missing overseas players Jia De Guzman and Ced Domingo, takes on the PLDT at 6 p.m.
Setter Kyle Negrito, who has been embracing a bigger role this conference, relished their chance to visit Cagayan De Oro, which is hosting the PVL for the first time.
“We’re very thankful to get this chance to play in different parts of the country,” said Negrito in Filipino as they play their second out-of-town game this conference, following their trip to Batangas last month.
The Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses has been making the most of his deep spiker-rotation bannered by Tots Carlos, Michele Gumabao, Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, and Bernadeth Pons.
Creamline got a big confidence boost from the past six games including a lopsided straight-set win over F2 Logistics ahead of its marquee duel as Meneses warned his team that they need to be wary of PLDT led by Savannah Davison.