CHAMPIONSHIP losses don’t come very often for Creamline.
In fact, it has only ever lost four PVL Finals in 17 conferences played in eight years.
READ: Petro Gazz outlasts Creamline to win first PVL All-Filipino title
Even as it had to yield the All-Filipino crown after a 21-25, 16-25, 25-23, 19-25 loss to Petro Gazz in the championship decider, the Cool Smashers were still all smiles in the aftermath of the league’s longest five-month conference yet.
Consoling hugs, words of encouragement, and hints of laughter here and there filled the pink side of the court just as sheer jubilation and euphoria can be seen, felt, and heard from the Angels’ end.
It was a matter of taking the loss to the chin for team captain Alyssa Valdez and carrying the understanding that not all battles are to be won.
Through some of them, one learns, one grows, and one draws the strength to fight back and be better.
“We win some, we learn some. And we actually do hope that we learn a lot from this loss. I honestly feel like it's part of the journey,” Valdez told SPIN.ph.
While Creamline has long been viewed as the unassailable Grand Slam-winning powerhouse with 10 titles to its name, Valdez is at ease with how such a rare title defeat has ‘humanized’ the dynastic Cool Smashers.
“We can't win everything, but we're taking this loss as something that humanizes us at the end of the day just because sometimes, sarili din namin yung kalaban namin.
“But Petro Gazz did an amazing job in today's game.”
Cool Smashers' shot to get hot on the collar
Creamline won’t have to wait for long to earn a shot at redemption, as it joins Petro Gazz and PLDT in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League from Apr. 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena.
The goal there for the perennial PVL champions is simple: give it everything they’ve got.
“We're gonna take this loss as a win in terms of at least kumpleto kami hanggang dulo. Sabi nga ni coach [Sherwin Meneses], hanggang kaya pa namin bumangon at maglaro, lalaban kami.
“It might be not today, we fell short, but we have another tournament coming up, so hindi pa tapos din yung laban for us. It's a different tournament for sure. We're playing against international teams, champion teams from different countries, but we're just gonna be there, hopefully give them a good fight.
“Hopefully, lahat ng mga learnings namin dito, madala namin du’n at marami rin kaming matutunan du’n kasi I bet all the veteran teams will be playing there and we'll learn a lot from them.”
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