Along with Kyle Negrito, Bea Bonafe and Mafe Galanza are being honed as Jia de Guzman's heirs.
No Jia de Guzman? No worries for the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Coach Sherwin Meneses already expressed confidence in Kyle Negrito, who will now step up as the senior setter for the champion squad.
Plus, they have two youngsters on the squad—Jema Galanza's sister Mafe, along with Bea Bonafe.
The younger Galanza, who has suited up for the University of Santo Tomas, shared the key lesson she got from her ates.
"Relax lang (daw) ako kasi as a setter, relaxed lang dapat. At kung hangga't maaari, makuha 'yung bola," Mafe Galanza told One Sports.
What she did notice though is that her more experienced teammates didn't let her feel the pressure.
"Pumasok ako dito sa Creamline na wala ako sa kundisyon. Sila, pinu-push ako every training na 'kaya mo 'yan!' Sobrang feel na feel ko na welcome," she gushed.
Now she only has to get used to directing her senior teammates as she sets the ball.
Bonafe also recalled one particular moment she had with captain Alyssa Valdez during a tune-up game.
"She said, 'What's your goal?' And I said, 'To help the team,'" the playmaker from the University of the Philippines recounted to One Sports.
"'Kasi parang bago pa lang po ako, wala si Ate Jia, si Ate Kyle lang senior setter,'" Bonafe further recalled.
"Sinabi niya, 'To help the team, yes. Since you're the youngest here, we want you to enjoy most of it, especially because you're just starting your journey. There's pressure, but you have to love the game, to love the sport more than what it's worth.'"
And just like Mafe Galanza, Bonafe shared that she had to learn to loosen up.
"Everything is fast-paced here so I really have to triple-time, and they taught me how to relax more," she added. "Coach likes to remind us to just stick to our system, because the system works."
Negrito added that she wants her young wards to relax.
"Basta sinasabi ko lang sa kanila, no pressure. 'Wag lang i-take itong opportunity na 'to for granted," she told One Sports.
"Mababait 'yung mga batang 'yan, makikita mo 'yung dedication nila. Makikita mo talaga na grateful na naging part sila ng Creamline Cool Smashers," the setter added.
Valdez, meanwhile, is all too happy to get fresh blood with the veteran squad.
"Iba yung energy na dinadala sa team namin," she told One Sports. "Here in Creamline, we try to make it a point that we learn from each other."
What's more important for coach Meneses is their attitude.
"Mabilis silang maka-adapt sa system. Napakasipag nila na makatulong sa team namin, 'yun 'yung number one talaga na nagustuhan ko sa kanila. 'Yung responsibility nila as a setter sa team, nagagampanan nila," he said.
The Creamline Cool Smashers will open the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference on October 15, Sunday, against sister squad Choco Mucho Flying Titans at 7 p.m.
It will be aired on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.
(CF)