Alyssa Valdez admitted that Creamline’s title conquest in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference tested the character of the Cool Smashers.
The 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference witnessed a significant elevation in competition, yet Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers still found a way to remain at the pinnacle.
The Cool Smashers completed another successful title defense on Sunday night, defeating the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 2 of the Finals.
For Valdez, who has been with the Rebisco-backed squad since its inception in 2017, this marked their eighth league title, and fourth in the All-Filipino or Open Conference.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Finals MVP Jema Galanza simply grateful Creamline never lost faith in most challenging title run yet]
Reflecting on their multiple conquests in the past, Valdez admitted that this one proved to be the most difficult of all.
“Siguro, based sa standings namin, probably this was the hardest, most challenging, and unpredictable [conference] for the Creamline Cool Smashers,” the 30-year-old stalwart bared.
“It was really a difficult conference for all of us probably because we’re really trying to figure out also kung nasaan kami at this point of our lives and in our careers.”
The perennial champions faced their toughest campaign in recent memory. Their path was fraught with challenges from the onset, suffering three losses in the elimination round and teetering on the brink of elimination.
It started when Farm Fresh challenged Creamline with a 36-34 set.
Then the Chery Tiggo Crossovers proved they were the streakbusters by halting Creamline's winning streak.
It sent a signal to the entire league. The Cool Smashers were vulnerable--a weakness that the Petro Gazz Angels took advantage of.
Even the PLDT High Speed Hitters stepped up.
Creamline’s resilience was undeniably put to the test, as Valdez and the rest of the team battled their way through the semifinals, entering the round-robin stage as the fourth seed.
However, their struggles continued as they faced the looming threat of elimination once more, particularly after a rare loss to their sister team, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, ending a five-year winning streak against them.
Yet, adversity only served to fuel the fire within the Cool Smashers. With unwavering determination and a collective resolve, they rallied together, refusing to let their dreams slip away. Their perseverance paid off as they clawed their way to the finals, overcoming every obstacle in their path.
In the best-of-three title series against Choco Mucho, Creamline showcased its championship pedigree, delivering when it mattered most to cement its place at the summit.
[ALSO READ: ‘Happy to be here’ | Bea de Leon relishes triumphant first PVL conference with Creamline]
“This is also the season that we proved to our team, to ourselves, to the coaches, and the whole management that our family will stay and stick together despite everything. Because of that, doon nanggaling 'yung faith namin, 'yung hope namin na hanggang sa dulo kakapit kami at lalaban kami,” Valdez shared.
She then continued, “Talagang nilaban namin and I think one thing na na-prove sa amin ng challenges is that kami rin talaga ‘yung magtutulungan sa dulo. ‘Yun ‘yung naging source ng strength namin from the first loss, second, third, semis and ‘yung coaches namin, hindi rin talaga bumitaw. Sila talaga 'yung nagbibigay ng confidence sa amin.”
Valdez also took the time to express gratitude to all those who contributed to Creamline's triumphant campaign.
“I’ll take this opportunity to thank every single person in our team from our coaching staff, from our utility, from our physical therapists, from our conditioning coaches, assistant coaches, and all the players, naka-line up ‘man or not,” she said.
“We have our values; we’re worth it. Everyone is very important in this team.”