EVEN the best of the best slip sometimes, and it happened for Creamline over the last seven years in the PVL Reinforced Conference more than any other tournament.
The Cool Smashers still stand as the league’s winningest team with eight championships.
READ: Creamline turns back Chery Tiggo for back-to-back PVL wins
But in the four editions of the import-laden conference the PVL has staged to date, Creamline has only won once back in 2018, which also happened to be their first franchise title.
The Cool Smashers did manage to reach the podium in all four occasions, though, having won silver in 2019 and bronze in 2018 and 2022.
After a tricky start to their 2024 Reinforced Conference campaign with American import Erica Staunton (22.3 points) where they lost in five sets to PLDT, it’s been all good for Creamline with a pair of four-set wins over Farm Fresh and erstwhile-unbeaten Chery Tiggo.
‘Not like us’
Creamline’s back-to-back wins to date came in the absence of their champion-MVP trio in team captain Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos and Alas Pilipinas-bound Jema Galanza.
Still, Staunton didn’t have to carry the scoring load alone as the one-two scoring punch of Michele Gumabao (18 points) and Bernadeth Pons (17.3 points) fueled the Cool Smashers’ return to title-contending form as of late.
In the eyes of four-time champion coach Sherwin Meneses, their unrivaled squad depth allows them to win with the pieces they have rather than dwell on who they’re missing.
“Since naman nu’ng na-handle ko (ang Creamline), medyo nagkukulang, nakukumpleto, pero ang sabi ko nga sa mga players na ang ensayo natin is pare-pareho lang, so nasa sa inyo kung papaano mo i-dedeliver ‘yung sistema namin,” Meneses said.
“Happy ako kasi sa bench, sa training namin, ‘yung mga bench players namin, talagang lumalaban ‘yan. Kaya kung sino ‘yung nandyan, du’n kami nagfo-focus. Hindi namin masyadong hinahanap ‘yung wala.
“Kung bumalik sila, mas maganda. Pero siyempre, team ‘yung Creamline so mag-dedeliver talaga yan kahit sino."
Creamline ‘still the standard’
Chery Tiggo import Khat Bell, who had an astounding 31-point performance in their first loss of the conference, was all praise for Creamline’s formidable player core and style of play altogether.
“Creamline, obviously, is an amazing team, it was a great night to come out and compete against them,” Bell said.
“They have so many options. The Creamline offense is very strong locally and they run a really good, speedy offense.”
Even PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort, whose High Speed Hitters got the better of the eight-time champions in their conference-opening duel, knows all too well that the Cool Smashers remain the league’s yardstick.
With a playoffs rematch still a possibility, Ricafort understands the importance of building momentum early knowing that Creamline has started to pick up the pace and unleash its championship form, albeit still undermanned.
“Kahit papaano, swerte na kami na first game namin si Creamline. Kasi alam niyo naman ‘yung Creamline, sila pa rin naman ‘yung top team,” Ricafort said.
“Naka-swerte kami nu’ng first game na nakuha namin (‘yung panalo). Pero ‘yun nga, lumalabas na ‘yung totoong laro nila. Buti ‘di kami ‘yung nakaranas nu’n.”
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