PVL: Creamline wins ninth title despite missing four stars

Creamline Cool Smashers are the PVL Reinforced Conference champions –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline dealt with different challenges in each of its championship runs but its ninth PVL title and first Reinforced Conference crown in six years may be the team’s toughest conquest yet.

What made it their hardest triumph so far was the fact that the Cool Smashers had to win it all without their star trio of Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza, who have been the foundation of the most successful club in the league.

The Cool Smashers missed three-time MVP winners Valdez and Carlos due to injuries and Galanza, who had to fulfill her duties with the Philippine women’s volleyball team. 

Creamline also signed the youngest import in Erica Staunton, who made her first pro and overseas stint, but the American turned out to be a right fit for the team as she formed a potent combo with breakout star Bernardeth Pons and Michele Gumabao.

The Cool Smashers were tested as they lost their first game to PLDT and even finished third in the eliminations with another loss to Petro Gazz with a 6-2 record. But they were able to exact a sweet revenge against the Angels in the knockout quarterfinal before overcoming a 0-2 deficit to eliminate Cignal in the semifinal.

READ: Creamline on cloud 9 after beating Akari for PVL Reinforced title

In the championship game, Pons’ MVP mode was on full display as the Conference and Finals MVP led the Cool Smashers’ 25-15, 25-23, 25-17 sweep of the erstwhile-unbeaten No.1 seed Akari on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.

Gumabao, who has been part of Creamline since 2018, believes her team is all about their chemistry and system–two vital components that allowed the team to flourish despite missing Valdez and Co.

“Super thankful din talaga kasi iba din talaga yung pinagdaanan namin this season. Kahit nung umpisa palang, kita naman, we started this season with a loss agad-agad but andoon talaga yung kapit and andun talaga yung tiwala ni coach samin. yun yung hinding-hindi talaga nawala ever since yung kahit nagsa-struggle kami, kahit hindi namin mapakita yung best namin in that game,” said Gumabao, who had seven points in the match.

“Everybody, sa starters, sa bench, kahit sa reserved (players) namin, talagang everybody is giving their best in practice so hindi lang ito para sa mga players, sa mga teammates namin na hindi nakalaro, para din sa mga teammates namin na hindi niyo nakikita sa loob ng court na 100 percent din talaga yung dedication.”

The championship game may be a straight-set victory for the Cool Smashers but they reaped the fruit of their struggles and hardships this conference.

READ: PVL: Erica Staunton relishes ‘unbelievable’ title run with Creamline

“Siguro kahit na nakikita nila na three sets lang yung finals, parang hindi namin matatanggal the whole story of the [conference] that the team has been through so many challenges, yung semis na muntikan na, and yung ibang mga games talaga na talagang super grabe yung kapit,” Gumabao said. “Thankful lang din talaga na naraos talaga kami ni Lord this season and nabigay talaga sa amin yung championship na ito. Sobrang big blessing ito for us. mahirap, siguro as compared to last season. I don’t know. Mas mahirap siguro yung kabuuan na pinagdaanan talaga ng team this [conference] kasi ang dami din talagang nawala.”

For coach Sherwin Meneses, his first Reinforced Conference title was sweet, seeing all his players step up in the absence of their scoring trio and even missing Jia De Guzman for the second straight tournament due to her commitment to Japan V.League and Alas Pilipinas.

“Syempre matamis na matamis. Kahit wala yung four players namin pero tiwala naman ako sa team namin kasi talagang nageensayo sila, like kahit nandiyan yung mga star players namin hindi sila talaga nagpapabaya sa ensayo. So, thankful ako kasi nandiyan sila [Gumabao] and mga leaders namin sa team,” said the six-time PVL champion coach.  “Every finals, challenge sa amin. Accept lang ng challenge tapos accept ng pressure, yun lang naman lagi.”

Creamline won’t have much time to celebrate its latest championship as its title-redemption bid starts in the Invitational Conference against EST Cola of Thailand on Friday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.