Kyle Negrito is grateful to have the support and trust of her coaches and teammates en route to the Finals MVP award in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference.
It wasn’t the cleanest of starts for Kyle Negrito after taking on the main setter role for the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Filling in the shoes of decorated setter Jia de Guzman, Negrito found herself at the center of attention as Creamline pushed for its championship aspirations.
But now, the former Far Eastern University standout is at the mountaintop after bagging the Finals MVP award during the Cool Smashers’ thrilling championship victory against the Cignal HD Spikers during the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference.
Negrito orchestrated Creamline’s offense en route to its 10th PVL title and the historic grand slam with 25 excellent sets.
The 27-year-old setter said she couldn’t have done it without the help of coach Sherwin Meneses and the trust given by her teammates.
“Unang una, ‘yung tulungan namin ni bossing idol coach Sherwin. Every rally talaga nandun siya para mag-guide sakin and siyempre ‘yung teammates hindi naman din nila pinapahirap yung trabaho ko,” Negrito said during the post-championship press conference.
“Mararamdaman and maririnig mo sila na lahat sila gustong humingi ng bola, lahat sila gustong pumatay ng bola. Me as a setter, trabaho na lang ‘yung gagawin na bibigay ko ‘yung pinakamaganda kong kayang ibigay tas sila na bahala,” she added.
Negrito became just the third setter to win the Finals MVP award, behind de Guzman and Kurashiki Ablaze’s Kyoka Ohshima.
When asked about winning the award, the 27-year-old setter brushed it off, saying the championship was the ultimate goal.
“Ang focus talaga namin these conferences ay mag-champion kasi ‘yun naman talaga goal namin. Totoo nga na makakuha ng ganitong award ay bonus lang,” said Negrito.
“‘Yung mga kasama ko lang din talaga pinanghahawakan ko. Binabalik ko lang din ‘yung tiwala na binigay nila,” she added.
Despite not having Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez for the past two conferences, the Cool Smashers showed why they are indeed the winningest team in the PVL.
“Kaming Creamline, matagal na kaming magkakasama, so walang problema kahit sino nasa loob,” said Negrito. “Alam ng bawat isa samin ‘yung role nila and gagawin namin ‘yung role and ‘yung respeto din namin sa isa’t isa at sa mga sacrifice and sa paghihirap ng bawat isa.
“Hindi naman kulang, sabi nga ni bossing, pito lang naman naglalaro sa loob ng court. Sobra sobra pa nga,” she added.