PVL: Creamline coach sees ‘easy’ transition for veteran stars

Bea De Leon.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline champion coach Sherwin Meneses is thrilled to have rivals-turned-Cool Smashers Bea de Leon and Denden Lazaro-Revilla on board when they eye another successful year in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.

Creamline on Saturday announced the transfer of ex-Choco Mucho stars De Leon and Revilla, which was first reported by INQUIRER.net on Thursday.

Meneses believes that De Leon and Revilla will be a big boost on both ends and won’t have a hard time adjusting to Creamline’s system since both are already seasoned players in the pro scene.

“Bea and Denden will be a big boost for us. Bea will be a big help on our attacking, while Denden will strengthen our defense,” Meneses told INQUIRER.net in Filipino. “It will be easy for them to adjust to our system because they are already veterans.”

De Leon, who spent the last five years of her career with Choco Mucho, is bringing her intensity to the Cool Smashers after parting ways with Ced Domingo, who is now committed to signing with Akari after her Thailand stint.

“Bea will be a big part of our offense because of her attitude inside the court. Bea’s intensity in the game is always high,” the PVL champion coach said.

Denden Lazaro-Revilla.–PVL PHOTO

Revilla will fortify the libero position for Creamline as she joins Kyla Atienza and Ella De Jesus giving Meneses a good problem.

“The Creamline players are always competitive in training. So I still need to see who will follow the system. We’ll see who will step up before the start of the conference,” he said.

Making it easier for the former Ateneo Blue Eagles to adjust is their familiarity with the Creamline system, which was built by former coach Tai Bundit. 

Lazaro and De Leon are also reuniting with Alyssa Valdez, Ella De Jesus, and Jia De Guzman, who is still in Japan as an import of Denso Airybees in the V.League. The libero won two championships with the group, including their breakthrough in 2014, overcoming a thrice-to-beat La Salle in the UAAP Season 76 finals, while De Leon was part of Ateneo’s perfect Season 77 campaign.

“Their experience and familiarity are already there but we have to work on our system again and look for more improvements [as we welcome our new members],” said Meneses, who will hold his first practice with the Cool Smashers on Monday.

Creamline swept all 15 games in the second All-Filipino Conference after beating Choco Mucho in the finals series for its seventh overall championship and second title in last year’s three tournaments.

The arrival of De Leon and Revilla gives the Cool Smashers a timely boost as achieving a rare Grand Slam has been elusive for the club, missing a championship in one conference in the past two seasons.