PVL: Ced Domingo set to join foreign club as Creamline allows move

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Ced Domingo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ced Domingo is set to become the latest Filipino to take her act overseas as Creamline announced that she won’t be seeing action in its title-retention bid in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

Creamline on Wednesday announced that Domingo won’t be playing in the season-ending tournament after signing with a foreign team, which the club didn’t disclose.

“We are proud and excited to announce that with great respect and understanding, Creamline management has carefully considered Ceddie’s request to play for a foreign team, and has granted her permission to pursue her dreams abroad,” read the Cool Smashers’ statement. 

“While this decision impacts our own team’s title chances, we believe that supporting her in achieving her personal goals and in being recognized as one of a handful of Filipina volleyball players to be invited as a foreign reinforcement is an important part of our commitment to her growth as an athlete.”

Sources bared to Inquirer Sports that Domingo will be flying to another country on Monday but politely refused to give the details of the country as her foreign club requested that it will be making the announcement.

“Ceddie and Virtual Playground will be sharing details of where she will take her talents soon. In the meantime, although we’ll sorely miss her presence in the team, we wholeheartedly wish her the best of luck in this new endeavor,” Creamline said. “May this opportunity bring her immense joy, growth and success. We hope that she seizes every moment, learn from new experiences and create lasting memories.”

Like Jia De Guzman, who will debut in Japan V.League for the Denso Airybees on Saturday, the Cool Smashers expressed their support for the star middle blocker.

“We understand that opportunities like these do not come often, and we want to ensure that Ceddie has the chance to explore and experience the world of volleyball to its fullest. We’re confident in her abilities and believe that this experience will contribute significantly to her development as a player,” the team wrote. “Ceddie, we’re very proud of you. You worked hard for and deserve this. Go out there, give it your all, and make your dreams come true.”

The 24-year-old Domingo, a two-time PVL Best Middle Blocker and last year’s Invitational Conference Finals MVP, joins Filipino players in overseas leagues led by De Guzman and Jaja Santiago of JT Marvelous in Japan and MJ Phillips and Iris Tolenada in South Korea.

Domingo missed Creamline’s first game as coach Sherwin Meneses bared that she underwent tooth extraction. Risa Sato and Jeanette Panaga will be manning the frontline of Creamline without the Far Eastern University product.