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Alyssa Valdez says having fans back was surreal
Creamline averted a meltdown against defending champion Chery Tiggo on Monday night, running away with a four-set, 25-18, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19 victory to reach the semifinals of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
And for team skipper Alyssa Valdez, the Cool Smashers could not have done it without the team’s beloved ‘seventh man’ – referring to the team’s fans who flocked to the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“Sobrang na-miss din talaga namin sila and binigyan nila kami ng energy to keep on pushing lalo na nung fourth set siyempre madodown ka talaga,” shared Valdez, who finished with 10 points in Creamline’s revenge win against Chery Tiggo. “Yung momentum nasa amin na nung third set, medyo kinapos talaga pero fourth set with their help, napakasarap sa pakiramdam na talagang we’re getting there also and talagang nag eenjoy yung mga fans.
“It’s been two years without our seventh man. We’re so happy hearing them as we’ve said even nung practice pa siyempre ‘di ba coach iba rin, magugulat din talaga kami with all the noise, cheers pero at the end of the day I think nag bigay din talaga sila ng confidence sa amin,” she continued.
After the Crossovers rode EJ Laure’s hot hands to steal the third set, Chery Tiggo once again threatened to take a set from the Cool Smashers by tying the game at 16-all.
That’s where Valdez – who is feeding off the crowd’s energy – converted an off-the-block hit to kick-start the 9-3 rally that gave Creamline the victory.
Indeed, it was a sweet, sweet victory for Valdez and the Cool Smashers. After all, they beat the same team that denied them the 2021 Open Conference crown all while giving their beloved community a treat.
“Nakakapanibago kasi for the longest time we’re in quarantine period. Seeing people at the end of the day may anxiety pa rin but we welcome everyone, ‘di ba? Yung protocols naman are there,” said Valdez.
“So we’re just really happy na nageenjoy din tayong lahat, nageenjoy sila. Sports is something that unites people so we’re just so happy na makita sila. Namiss nating lahat.”
