CREAMLINE’S opening match loss to PLDT served as an aberration to what turned out be the team’s return to the Promised Land.
“Siyempre matamis na matamis (itong title). Siyempre kahit na wala iyong (ilang) players namin tiwala naman ako sa team namin kasi talagang nag-e-ensayo sila,” Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Like kahit nandiyan iyong mga star players namin hindi sila talaga nagpapabaya sa ensayo. Thankful ako kasi nandiyan sila Michele Gumabao, mga leader namin sa team, so thankful talaga ako dahil nandiyan sila,” he added.
Meneses spoke after his charges humbled the erstwhile unbeaten Akari Chargers 25-15, 25-23, 25-17 in their knockout battle for the PVL Reinforced Conference crown last Wednesday night,
Bernadeth Pons, named the conference and finals MVP, along with American import Erica Staunton and veteran hitter Gumabao, showed the way for Creamline as it bagged a ninth title overall despite missing aces Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza.
“Sobrang fulfilling kasi alam ko, alam ko kung paano ako magtrabaho every day, kung paano ako mag-extra sa sarili ko rin para maging 100 percent ako sa team kasi may injury ako before,” Pons said. “Sobrang saya na every day nakikita ko iyong progress ng ginagawa ko and sobrang thankful lang din talaga sa mga teammates ko na laging nandiyan para i-bring out iyong best namin.
“Every day lahat kami talaga sobra kapag nagtra-training kami para na rin kaming naglalaro kasi sobrang competitive talaga lahat. Iyon din talaga iyong isa sa pinakamaganda din sa team kasi ma-cha-challenge ka rin talaga kung anong gagawin mo sa mga sitwasyon na ganito kasi competitive talaga lahat in a very healthy way naman.”
But the best is yet to come for the Cool Smashers in the Invitational tilt where they are joined by the Cignal HD Spikers and the Farm Fresh Foxies, along with foreign guest teams in reigning champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan and Thailand’s Est Cola.
