History was made in Game 2 of the PVL Finals!
Winning has come naturally for the Creamline Cool Smashers.
But their latest championship victory against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference might just have been the most difficult of all.
Aside from being pushed to the brink by the Flying Titans, the Cool Smashers also had to deal with the pressure of playing in front of a record 24,459 fans in Game 2 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Creamline star Jema Galanza admitted that playing in front of a massive crowd like that brought back some nerves.
“Nakakakaba din kasi kailangan mo talagang mabigay 'yung best mo tsaksa mapasaya 'yung mga taong nanonood,” Galanza said in an interview in One Sports’ The Game.
Despite this, Galanza finished with 21 points built on 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace to go with 20 excellent receptions and nine digs.
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The same sentiment was shared by middle blocker Pangs Panaga, who used the crowd to fuel her every time Creamline scored a point.
“Nakaka-goosebump talaga na paglalaro ka dun,” said Panaga. “Every point mo ang saya na nakaka-puntos ka tapos naghihiyawan mga tao. Mas nakaka-hype up siya eh, mas nakaka-boost ng morale.”
The record-breaking turnout broke the previous record established during a UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball finals match between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle Lady Spikers, which drew 22,848 spectators.
Fun fact: Alyssa Valdez played in both of those historic matches.
Valdez would go on to admit that she and the rest of the Cool Smashers had to adjust their communication after the first set due to the loud crowd.
“This my first time also na kahit papaano, hindi rin kami nagkaka-intindihan,” said Valdez. “Kasi kunware, free ball, you would talk din kung ano 'yung gusto mong play, hindi talaga kami magkarinigan, hindi kami magkaintidihan kaya ang daming miscommunication during the first set.”
“In the long run kasi magzo-zone out ka na. Ang maririnig mo nalang parang it's so quiet na kayo-kayo nalang magkakarinigan,” she added.
In front of a massive crowd and all, the Cool Smashers showed why they are indeed the queens of the PVL.
But it didn't come easy. Not one bit. And that is why it was all worth it.
(MDB)