The Cool Smashers have one big advantage aside from talent.
Until further notice, the Creamline Cool Smashers will be the team to beat in the PVL Invitational Conference.
The Cool Smashers proved that much in their opening-day clash with the retooled Chery Tiggo Crossovers, who arguably boast the most fearsome collection of talent in the PVL outside the ladies in pink.
But, unlike their counterparts in Creamline, the Crossovers are only now trying to establish chemistry—and the lack of it showed in their 25-22, 25-22, 25-17, loss to the defending champs on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
And as Mylene Paat and company go back to the proverbial drawing board, the Cool Smashers will go back to doing what they have been doing for the past so many months: master their craft.
“‘Yung system naman namin continuous lang talaga,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses told reporters after the game. “Talagang mina-master lang talaga namin ‘yung galaw namin. Kahit sino ‘yung kalaban, number one sa team namin, pag maganda ginagalaw sa ensayo, kahit sino naman ‘yung makalaban ng team. Kung manalo, mas maganda.”
Tots Carlos, who led the way for Creamline on Tuesday, agreed with Meneses.
“Pino-polish lang ‘yung system talaga. ‘Yung mga iniiwasan lang namin talaga ‘yung mga errors. ‘Yun lang ‘yung mga dinidiin sa ‘min ni coach,” added the PVL All-Filipino Conference MVP, who torched Chery Tiggo for 24 points, including several from well-executed attacks perfected through years of playing together with the same core players.
It also helps that Creamline’s core is as talented as that of any team.
Only, that core is working on mastery already. The other teams, on the other hand, are still trying to build chemistry.
Needless to say, it is advantage Creamline.