Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses will have a "good problem" on his plate with the return of Alyssa Valdez to the Cool Smashers lineup in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Creamline Cool Smashers are nearing their full strength following the return of Alyssa Valdez in their opening match in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Valdez made her highly-anticipated return to the Cool Smashers after sitting out the 2024 Reinforced and Invitational Conferences due to a nagging knee injury.
In limited minutes, the three-time PVL MVP contributed four points on three attacks and one block, but it was her presence on the court that seemingly gave Creamline an extra boost against the Petro Gazz Angels.
In the third set, Valdez led the charge in Creamline’s 14-3 run to close the game and secure the straight-sets victory, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16, at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
But more than Valdez’s return, the Cool Smashers saw equal contributions from their starters and even their bench, opening their 5-peat bid in the All-Filipino Conference on a sweet note.
This was something coach Sherwin Meneses lauded in the team’s victory.
“Syempre sobrang saya kasi ‘yung nangyari is talagang total teamwork ‘yung nangyari. Lahat nag-perform nang maganda, nang maayos. So ‘yun ‘yung naging result, nagkaroon kami ng una naming panalo,” Meneses said during the post-game press conference.
“Hindi naman naging madali kasi siyempre may mga adjustment din na nangyayari. Talagang ‘yung nasa bench namin talagang nagbigay ng support sa first six namin, so total team effort talaga,” he added.
Following Valdez's comeback, Creamline will now be awaiting the return of Tots Carlos, who is also recovering from a knee injury. But given the six-month conference, Meneses will be looking to study how to properly field in his stars.
“Talagang good problem palagi sa Creamline [‘yung maraming maasahan] pero kasi ngayon medyo mahaba talaga ‘yung conference so walang naka-experience ng six months na tournament dito sa Pilipinas so first time talaga ito,” said Meneses.
“So, talagang pinag-aaralan pa mabuti kung paano patatakbuhin ‘yung team in six months,” he added.
In the win over Petro Gazz, Jema Galanza finished with a team-high 13 points to go along with nine excellent digs, while Bernadeth Pons had a sneaky triple-double of 10 points, 13 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions.
Bea de Leon also had 10 markers, six of which came in blocks.
Brooke Van Sickle was the lone Petro Gazz player who finished in double-digits with 18 points.
Creamline will head to Candon City, Ilocos Sur on Saturday, Nov. 23, where the Cool Smashers will face the undefeated Akari Chargers in a rematch of the Reinforced Conference Finals.