AS if eight titles weren’t enough to justify Creamline’s championship pedigree, the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) winningest team added more firepower.
READ: Lone NCAA first-rounder Lorraine Pecaña just what Choco Mucho needs
And in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft, the Cool Smashers got the only pick they needed.
Adding international flair and championship experience overseas is Filipino-Canadian ace Aleiah Torres, who, like Creamline, is a serial winner herself.
Winning is second nature
Winning runs in the DNA of the 5-foot-4, 22-year-old Torres.
She began playing volleyball at 12 years old before taking her talents to Brock University in Ontario where she became a three-time Canadian Athletic Association champion.
Listed as both a libero and outside hitter, her final role with Creamline for the upcoming Reinforced Conference remains uncertain for now.
But one thing’s for sure: Torres wants to win that ninth title as she looks to prove herself to the Cool Smashers' legions of fans.
“It’s just a great opportunity to be able to be a part of this team and be able to learn from other people who have been in winning situations. Hopefully, I can bring my talent, my skills to their team and hopefully add to their winning streak," she said.
“It’s definitely a really big fanbase and I’m really looking forward to meeting all the fans and being part of just like one big happy family.”
Creamline’s ‘4-in-1 star’
It was no less than Valdez herself who welcomed their newest Cool Smasher — one whom she expects to fit right in with the PVL's most successful team, given her history of winning championships abroad.
With Torres' versatility, getting her at No. 12 - as the squad's lone selection in the draft - is definitely a steal.
“I’m excited to play alongside her, alongside siguro yung bagong culture na mabibigay niya rin sa amin. Siguro may matututunan din kami sa kanya knowing that she’s coming from a different system, so we’re really looking forward sa mga ganung bagay, at sana may matutunan din siya samin," she stated.
“Sabi nga ni coach (Sherwin Meneses), parang nakakuha kami ng 4-in-1 kasi nung nakita ni coach mag-train, nakita na iba yung mga skillset niya, medyo may advantage siya sa mga ibang aspects in terms of spiking also, meron siya, so we’re very happy na makasama siya sa team," she added.
‘Pressure is a privilege’
To further emphasize just how much of a perfect fit Torres is to Creamline, she'll be coming into the Philippines with the same mindset that Valdez instilled in her teammates following their loss to sister club Choco Mucho in Game One of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals -- pressure is a privilege.
And getting to live her PVL dream in front of her Filipino family from Cavite and Tarlac makes the journey much more of a thrill than it’s already shaping up to be.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure but like my coach back home in Canada said, pressure is privilege so hopefully, I just get to hopefully enjoy this opportunity and deal with whatever comes my way.
“It’s super exciting. A lot of my family here hasn’t been able to watch me play in Canada so it’s definitely a good opportunity for them to be able to watch me live and play professional volleyball here in the Philippines.”
With the likes of reigning PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle and Savi Davison making waves as the league’s Fil-foreign stars, Torres can't wait to compete against the brilliant pair on the court and win the hearts of the tens of thousands of Creamline fans all over the country.
“It’s just gonna be a good competition on the court and hopefully, I get to see them and play against them (Fil-foreign players), hopefully on the court, and just be able to bring my skills to the team.”
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