Despite the continuous improvement of teams in the PVL, the Creamline Cool Smashers remain as the gold standard for the upcoming All-Filipino Conference.
2024 Reinforced Conference record: 6-2 (Champions)
2024 Invitational Conference record: 4-0 (Champions)
Key departures: Risa Sato
Key players: Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, Pangs Panaga
Coach: Sherwin Meneses
One word to describe Creamline’s upcoming campaign
Dynasty.
How do you follow up a historic grand slam season? With possibly another one.
The Creamline Cool Smashers took home the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences even with the absence of some of their stars due to injuries.
The scary part? Expect Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos to suit up once more the Cool Smashers in the upcoming 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The question now is who will start for Creamline? Will it be Tots, Alyssa, Jema or Pons?
[ALSO READ: PVL: Bernadeth Pons ready to contribute for Creamline whether starting or coming off bench]
All things considered, this is a good problem for coach Sherwin Meneses.
“It’s a good problem naman, pero siyempre kailangan mo mag-decide every game. Sa team naman namin wala namang tampuhan about sa playing time. Hopefully, ‘yung deserving mapunta dun sa first six is talagang mag-perform this conference,” Meneses told One Sports.
It also helps that the Cool Smashers don’t need any further motivation even after winning it all last season.
“Hindi naman ako nahirapan mag-motivate sa kanila kasi players naman namin very competitive lalo na sa training talagang binibigay na nila 100% nila,” said Meneses.
“Lahat naman ng players namin ay talagang leader din naman talaga so hindi kailangan masyado i-motivate.”
Biggest X-Factor for Creamline this season
Alyssa Valdez.
Not much will be asked from the Phenom, especially since she has done it all for Creamline.
But once she is back on the court, Valdez will be out to prove that she is indeed still one of the best. That alone is already a dangerous sight to see and added motivation for the rest of the Cool Smashers.
“I’m really doing well, been joining team practice for about weeks na rin. So sana magtuloy-tuloy lang din sa pag-gel ulit sa team and makabalik ‘yung condition sa paglalaro,” said Valdez.
“Hopefully,‘yung feeling ko at least mga 60-70% na nakakasabay din sa team ngayon.”
Best-case scenario
Creamline continues its dynasty and reigns supreme in the All-Filipino Conference once more with equal distributions across the board from its superstars.
Worst-case scenario
Failing to defend the All-Filipino crown will be a disappointing run for the Cool Smashers.
The winningest team in the PVL will also be hoping that the team will be injury-free during this extended conference.
Bold prediction
Creamline goes for another undefeated run, even with the double-elimination round and different playoff format, en route to the championship.