No pressure, says Meneses, as Creamline defends last crown on its head
It seems like only yesterday, Creamline was the toast of women’s volleyball, with every available title in the Premier Volleyball League in its possession.
Now, the Cool Smashers set off looking to defend the only crown in their heads.
“There’s no pressure,” coach Sherwin Meses said, days before the PVL opens its Reinforced Conference, where Creamline will defend its title with help from American spiker Courtney Schwann.
“Creamline is a team that always embraces any kind of pressure, game by game. We’re fully focused on this one,” Meneses added.
The Cool Smashers lost their All-Filipino Conference title after their drive for five was shattered by Petro Gazz. The 10-time PVL champion wasn’t even within sniffing distance of the PVL on Tour and Invitational crowns—both claimed by PLDT i sweeping fashion—and finished with a pair of bronze medals.
That puts a sense of urgency in Creamline’s defense of the Reinforced title.
Creamline will continue to miss eight-time Best Setter Jia De Guzman and Reinforced MVP Bernadeth Pons, who are both committed to Alas Pilipinas indoor and beach volleyball, respectively.
But Meneses is confident that his holdovers will continue to step up in the import-laden tournament, with Tots Carlos and Bea De Leon returning to action to support Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Kyle Negrito, Pangs Panaga, and rookie Sheena Toring.
“This conference, it’s really all about solid preparation,” Meneses said. “Imports make up around 40 percent of a team’s success, it depends on how skilled and committed they are to helping the team. I think Creamline has an edge there because we’re used to playing in conferences with imports.”
“But of course, like you said, other teams won’t go down without a fight. So we’re just staying ready for every game in this conference.”
Coming from a fruitful training camp in Thailand, Valdez and Gumabao are determined to reach the top anew.
“We’ve been working hard preparing for this conference. … So, we’re really looking forward to having a better conference,” said Valdez.
“Every conference, Creamline is always super determined to become champions again. That’s always the goal,” Gumabao said.
“But the bigger goal for us is to stay safe and injury-free. Hopefully, all players stay healthy, and those who haven’t returned yet can come back soon. Of course, the championship is still the ultimate target. We’ll always fight until the very end.”
The Creamline veterans are also grateful to have Schwan, who has already brought a lot of “new things” to the team even before the tournament starts on Tuesday next week at Ynares Center in Montalban.
“Coco is such a good addition to our team. More than the experience she’s bringing to the team,” said Valdez. “She’s very vocal, very straightforward. We’re able to actually adjust easier because of that personality of hers.”
