PVL: Creamline starts drive for No. 5

After a record-breaking Grand Slam in the last PVL season, the Creamline Cool Smashers are back with the same determination to keep their lofty standing using an old, tried-and-tested formula and relentless drive for success.

Skipper Alyssa Valdez returns from injury bay to again spearhead the Cool Smashers, who will be looking to win the All-Filipino Conference for the fifth straight time and fourth straight tournament.

“Our preparation remains unchanged,” Valdez said as Creamline opens the season against dangerous Petro Gazz and Brooke Van Sickle, the prolific offensive gun who will be coming off a 34-point outing.

Tots Carlos will also be reactivated after missing the last two tournaments because of a leg injury. And that restores the most fearsome attacking unit in the league together with Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao.

“It’s gonna be very, very hard,” said Van Sickle, when asked of the 6:30 p.m. match with Creamline at Ynares Center in Antipolo. “We just have to come out fired up and see what kind of magic we can make work.”

Van Sickle scored practically at will in a 25-20, 26-28, 25-21, 25-16 victory over Choco Mucho last Nov. 9 when both squads debuted.

Old libero gone

Jonah Sabete is another player that Creamline should look out for.

“As a team, we can’t look across the net and back down. We have to bring the same fire and energy against everyone,” she said.

The day starts at 4 p.m. with the showdown between Cignal and Farm Fresh.

Like the Cool Smashers, both the HD Spikers and the Foxies are making their debuts as Cignal relies on Vanie Gandler and Ces Molina to carry the offensive load.

This will be the first time in 11 years that Cignal will be playing without libero Jheck Dionela, who took her act to Farm Fresh in the offseason.

“There’s definitely pressure to maintain our performance from past conferences,” said Valdez. “But whenever we feel it, we remind ourselves to take it one point at a time, especially in this long conference.

“We need to stay intentional with every action, on and off the court, and approach each point with the right mindset.”