NEVER count a champion out.
Creamline earned its shot at redemption in a spirited 20-25, 26-28, 25-18, 27-25, 15-13 fightback over Cignal in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference knockout semifinals on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
The Cool Smashers are out to reclaim the throne after a six-year wait for what could be their ninth overall PVL championship after missing out on the title in the last two editions of import-laden play.
Moreover, Creamline extends its inimitable streak of securing a podium finish in every single conference it played in — now 15 in succession since the club and the league’s inception in 2017.
And should they get the job done against Akari the do-or-die gold medal game, title number nine would be Creamline’s first without a match played by at least one of captain Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Jia de Guzman.
Erica comes through
It was a career game for Staunton with 38 points on 36 attacks, one block and one ace — record numbers for a 23-year-old in her very first pro volleyball stint overseas.
For the rookie American spiker, two key aspects of their five-set comeback stunned her as a debutant in the big stages.
One of which is the immense support of the Creamline faithful that comprised a huge chunk of the 11,438-strong crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
In Staunton’s words, playing for huge crowds is a feeling she won’t get used to anytime soon.
“I don't think you can ever really get used to the screaming of the fans. It's awesome when somebody makes a really good dig or somebody puts a really good ball down,” Staunton said.
“That's something I'll never get used to. I think it's super special. It's really awesome. Even one time, I can't remember what happened. But I was like, ‘Oh my ears!’ Like, wow, they are really loving this. So, it's awesome," she added.
"Getting used to it, but, it's also very different from anything I've ever been in. “
But the thing that caught Staunton by surprise more than anything, and in a pleasant way, is the winning thrust behind Creamline’s longstanding dynasty — selflessness among its stars.
“I've grown a lot as a player and just with this team. I'd say, I think we found our groove after that first game. And we were just able to figure out how to work together.
“And I think what makes Creamline special is, you know, we're not focused on one person. We're not just one person, we’re offense-heavy.”
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