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PVL: Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza reflect on ‘toughest’ Creamline championship conquest yet
Creamline wanted to be pushed to the limit. The Cool Smashers got what they wanted and responded like the champions that they are.
Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza and the Creamline Cool Smashers’ road to their eighth championship is unlike no other | Art by Mitzi Solano/One Sports, Photos (c) RM Chua
Creamline’s road to an unprecedented eighth PVL championship was nothing like they’ve ever experienced before.
With the level of competition rising and various teams beefing up their rosters, the Cool Smashers had to overcome self-doubts and dug deep to remain atop of the PVL All-Filipino Conference for the fourth straight time.
“I have to be honest that as much as it’s a very exciting conference, it was one of the conferences also na merong kaba din sa’min,” team captain Alyssa Valdez revealed on the Pilipinas Live’s Starting Lineup.
Valdez bared that even before the conference started, Creamline felt the pressure of raising their game and strengthening their already stacked team. Almost all the other teams were bolstering their rosters in the offseason.
“For the longest time, kami ‘yung isa sa mga team na we’re having a hard time to recruit as well. When we recruit, we prioritize not also skills but also kung magco-complement yung players sa buong group namin, sa sistema din ni coach Sherwin (Meneses),” the multi-time MVP added.
The Cool Smashers eventually added veteran libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla and middle blocker Bea De Leon.
Jema Galanza, the 2024 All-Filipino Conference Finals MVP, echoed her teammate Valdez’s thoughts.
“Yung mga [former] F2 players. Sobrang naa-amaze kami sa mga team na napasukan nila. Deserve nila ‘yung pinasukan nila kasi alam namin na may ilalakas sila and ‘yung pinasukan nila [na teams], malalakas din. Madami talaga silang maco-contribute sa team, so more ganoon ‘yung mga pinag-uusapan namin.”
Galanza was referring to the former F2 Logistics Cargo Movers players who switched teams after the team’s disbandment early this year.
Some notable names include multi-awarded libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig who went to the Cignal HD Spikers, Aby Maraño and Ara Galang to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, the trio of Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron and Kim Kianna Dy to the PLDT High Speed Hitters, youngsters Ivy Lacsina and Jolina Dela Cruz to the Nxled Chameleons and Farm Fresh Foxies respectively, and many more.
Valdez admitted that several teams gearing up their rosters in contending with Creamline became a major driving force in overcoming their early doubts.
“’Yung kaba at takot na everyone is beefing up, nag-aadd sila ng ibang mga strength nila sa team. Masasabi ko na ‘yung takot na ‘yun ‘yung naging fuel na mawala yung doubts namin coming on this conference.”
From fears and self-doubts to four-peat
However, early bumps in the road tested the Cool Smashers’ resolve.
With the addition of rising super scorers Savannah Davison and Brooke Van Sickle in the scene, Creamline–who was coming off a perfect 15-0 campaign in the 2nd PVL All-Filipino Conference last year–dropped three games in the eliminations round.
The loss to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers announced to the entire league–the defending champions can become vulnerable.
Brooke Van Sickle and the Petro Gazz Angels pounced on the opportunity to get their own.
Creamline also absorbed a four-set loss to the High Speed Hitters, and settled as the number four team heading into the semifinal round robin.
The Cool Smashers then dropped their semis opener to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, who finally ended a 12-streak loss to their sister team.
Valdez admitted doubts started to creep into the squad, questioning their growth as a team and as individuals, as well as their ability to master their craft in game situations.
“Very vulnerable talaga. It’s coming… from we’ve been here, ano pa ‘yung challenge, ano pa ‘yung kailangan namin ibigay, iimprove? Nandoon kami sa point na gano’n. Sometimes, we [Creamline] question ourselves: nag-iimprove pa ba tayo? As a team or as an individual? Bakit hindi namin ma-perfect ‘yung ginagawa namin kahit na we’re always here?”
“’Yung mentality namin, ‘yung standards, sobrang tumataas na sometimes if we don’t meet certain expectations, we crumble,” the three-time PVL MVP added.
The Creamline star however, credited their whole coaching staff for reminding the team to just play.
“Pero our coaches would remind us to just enjoy and play lang. You know what to do and it was a good balance.”
Galanza also revealed that they were challenged throughout the season, “Ito rin talaga ‘yung season na masusukat namin ang isa’t isa.”
“Sinukat kami ng tadhana,” she added.
At the end, as champions do, Creamline found the way to win, ending the semifinals with two straight wins and sweeping the Flying Titans in a best-of-three championship series.
Just like the legendary Houston Rockets Rudy Tomjanovich said: “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.”
Anyone but never a battle-tested, winning team like the Creamline Cool Smashers.
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