ALYSSA Valdez is not looking at Creamline’s return to the PVL Finals not as vindication but more of a rebirth.
After a rare, title-less 2025 campaign for the Cool Smashers, the league’s most successful team is back on the biggest stage, but this time with a renewed purpose.
“Napakasarap sa pakiramdam to be back in the finals. It’s been a while, ‘di ba? Isang taon din halos. Tatlong conferences din nawala,” Valdez said after Creamline's win over Farm Fresh in the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Thursday.
READ Creamline dispatches Farm Fresh, books 15th PVL Finals appearance
“I think no words can explain kung ano rin na-feel namin as of the moment kasi, one, kumpleto kami. Ngayon, two, nakapasok pa kami sa finals. God is good talaga to us, most especially to the team.”
Creamline had to take a longer road, going through two do-or-die games including a hard-earned semifinal victory over Farm Fresh, to finally break through a three-conference drought.
It was a far cry from their dominant years, when finals appearances felt like a given.
This time, every step had to be earned. And in the process, Valdez believes the whole team learned more about themselves.
“In this conference, we want to get to know more of us as Creamline kasi ngayon lang ulit kami na-kumpleto,” she said.
“‘Iba ‘yung growth namin, iba ‘yung pagkakakilala namin in a deeper level din talaga this conference because of all the challenges.”
Instead of leaning from their past, this version of Creamline is choosing to define itself in the present, not as a dynasty trying to reclaim what it once had, but as a team rediscovering who it is.
“We’re very, very glad and happy na na-experience namin ‘yun. Coming into this finals, ang gusto lang namin maipakita ay kung sino rin talaga ulit ‘yung Creamline Cool Smashers after all these struggles.”
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