Kyle Negrito units up a Creamline assault.—PVL PHOTOS
There was one thing completely different about Creamline late Sunday evening.
Bernadeth Pons was main the staff in scoring. Kyle Negrito was pulling the strings on offense. Tots Carlos punched in restricted minutes together with Alyssa Valdez. Beginning setter Jia de Guzman was in Japan, the place she is going to play as an import for the Denso Airybees. Libero Kyla Atienza and Ced Domingo, two staff regulars, had been out for well being causes.
About the one factor acquainted concerning the Cool Smashers on Sunday had been their vivid pink uniforms and the truth that they nonetheless are the masters of Choco Mucho.
Oh, and their tradition.
“I suppose that’s the great factor about Pons and Creamline is we encourage one another, we encourage one another,” Valdez stated. “It’s simply so good to see everybody respect one another within the staff and the tradition that we reside by.”
And because the Flying Titans discovered, that tradition is perhaps sufficient to hold Creamline within the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Convention, the place the staff seems to be in a transition part, however one which has offered coach Sherwin Meneses with a “good drawback.”
‘Unpredictable’
“[We’re] very unpredictable. We don’t know who’s going to play as a result of everybody deserves a spot on the staff,” stated Valdez after Creamline’s 25-18, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 victory over Choco Mucho in entrance of 14,014 followers at Sensible Araneta Coliseum in Quezon Metropolis. “I believe that’s the fantastic thing about the Cool Smashers, everybody’s actually stepping up, whoever coach decides to play. So, I suppose that’s an excellent drawback for coach Sherwin and hopefully it turns into a bonus this convention.”
Pons led Creamline with 22 factors whereas Michele Gumabao added 20 factors. Negrito, who has some very large sneakers to fill, lobbed 23 glorious units to a number of keen hitters.
“We’re blissful to get the win, particularly towards Choco Mucho who is without doubt one of the contenders on this convention. We’re okay as a result of we’re a veteran staff so we will modify,” Meneses stated of his new-look starters after making it 9-0 (win-loss) head-to-head towards the Flying Titans.
Bernadeth Pons shoulders among the scoring load for the Cool Smashers. —PVL PHOTO
The Cool Smashers had a nervy begin to the sport, yielding three errors that made up their opponents’ first three factors. Even Negrito admitted she battled “good nerves” early on.
“My staff could be very affected person. Coach informed us that this season, we actually want to assist one another out and work onerous each single sport and in coaching,” Negrito stated.
As soon as Creamline settled down, nonetheless, Choco Mucho couldn’t discover solutions once more, regardless of one other highly effective efficiency from former College of Santo Tomas star Sisi Rondina, who contributed 21 factors on 19 kills.
Pons was an enormous issue of the puzzle that the Flying Titans couldn’t resolve. The previous Far Jap College spearhead, Rondina’s teammate within the nationwide seaside volleyball squad, additionally added 11 glorious digs and 7 receptions.
“I’m blissful I’m again at 100%. I actually labored onerous to rehab my harm and I do know I’ve quite a bit to offer to the staff this convention,” Pons stated. As Meneses works by the wealth of expertise in his disposal, Creamline hopes to get its groove early to be in a robust place as soon as its injured starters return.
“Crucial factor for us is to be wholesome each sport. That is simply Recreation 1 so there are nonetheless 10 video games left,” Meneses stated.
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“I’m very pleased with my teammates as a result of [they work hard] in observe and the stress and accountability is so large and most particularly we’re the champion final All-Filipino so we wish to present that we’re okay this convention,” Valdez stated. “We actually want to assist one another even within the smallest issues.” INQ