DASMARIÑAS — Losing a conference opener would often raise eyebrows and be treated as a cause for concern for any team.
When it comes to Creamline, it might just be a blessing in disguise.
READ: Akari beats Creamline after five-set thriller in Dasmarinas
The Cool Smashers lost their 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference debut to the Chargers, the same team from which they wrested the 2024 title from.
That 23-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-12 win was also Akari’s first over the reigning champions in three years and in 10 all-time head-to-head matches.
But what’s the good in all these if you’re Creamline? The league’s winningest team has seen this film before.
Back in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, the second crown jewel to Creamline’s grand slam, it also lost its opening match of the conference to PLDT.
And it was also a five-setter that saw the Cool Smashers lose a fifth-set tiebreak at 12-15.
At the time in 2024, Creamline’s eventual best outside hitter and best foreign guest player winner in American winger Erica Staunton had 20 points and 10 receptions in her first taste of pro volleyball overseas.
It would go on to lose just one more five-setter to Petro Gazz in the 10 succeeding matches since that opening defeat en route to its ninth PVL title.
Will history repeat itself?
A year later, Staunton’s compatriot Courtney Schwan churned out a near triple-double of 26 points, 15 digs and nine receptions in an identical five-set debut loss.
The 6-foot-1 import remains upbeat in Creamline’s chances of getting their title defense up and running sooner than later.
“A little bummed about the result. Obviously, we want to win. I’m happy we lost early so that we can learn from our mistakes,” Schwan said shortly before leaving the Cavite venue.
Before eyeing redemption on Tuesday against Petro Gazz, Schwan puts a premium on firstly holding themselves accountable for an error-plagued showing — one where they gave up 35 points off unforced errors.
“I think that we did it to ourselves. We had a couple of errors in key moments in the match," Schwan said.
“While I think that they [Akari] played very well, but I also think that we, at the end, made the mistakes and lost it for ourselves.”
Six months since her most recent injury layoff, Tots Carlos remains positive as well after the disapponting conference debut.
“Positive naman ‘yung team after the game kasi it wasn’t really an easy game. Lahat naman, nakita namang nag-effort pero tough loss talaga,” Carlos said.
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