Although they are missing some key players, the Creamline Cool Smashers remain a formidable team in the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
It was none more evident in the defending champions’ 25-18, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 opening victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Among those who stepped up was the fit-again Bernadeth Pons, who tallied 22 points and 11 excellent digs in the win. Setter Kyle Negrito also did a spectacular job orchestrating the offense in Jia de Guzman's stead. De Guzman is now playing for the Denso Airybees in the Japan V.League.
That's why even without Ced Domingo and Kyle Atienza, who are both nursing physical issues, coach Sherwin Meneses didn’t seem concerned. He knows that he can rely on the cards left on his deck.
“Hindi naman (concerned) kasi baka masyado mahaba conference ngayon, so mas okay siguro kung pumasok ng semis or kung saan man kami abutin na healthy kami,” he said. “‘Yun pinaka-importante sa’min, maging healthy kami every game.”
With a plethora of aces ready to step up on any given day, superstar Alyssa Valdez described Creamline as "unpredictable."
“We don’t know also sino ilalaro kasi everyone deserves the spot in the team and I think that’s the beauty of the Creamline Cool Smashers. Everyone naman is stepping up,” said Valdez.
Valdez is hopeful this will continue to do wonders for the Cool Smashers after kicking off their title defense on a winning note.
“That’s a good problem for Coach Sherwin. Hopefully, maging advantage namin ‘yan this conference,” she said.
Creamline will next face the Cignal HD Spikers on Saturday.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada, One Sports Digital)
(PM)