TO see a seven-time champion team like Creamline be left in a vulnerable, must-win position with its Premier Volleyball League (PVL) title aspirations in the balance is quite a rarity.
With their hopes of a championship encore starting to fade, the Cool Smashers needed to win its second semifinal match versus Petro Gazz after a five-set meltdown against sister team Choco Mucho.
And in true champion fashion, they staved off the threat of elimination by outlasting prelims tormentor Petro Gazz in four sets.
READ: Tots Carlos still open to playing overseas after going undrafted in Korea
In 13 conferences, seven seasons and six years in the league, Creamline has never missed out on a podium finish — not even once. And over such a period of dominance, the Cool Smashers racked up a league-best seven championships, three runner-up finishes and three bronze medals.
Quite frankly, Creamline’s unrivaled consistency has fostered a winning culture which continues to be the yardstick in Philippine volleyball.
But in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Creamline had its fair share of struggles after being dealt its first three-loss campaign in the elimination round since incumbent head coach Sherwin Meneses took the reins from Tai Bundit in 2022.
The season-opening conference of 2024 also saw the Cool Smashers’ 19-game unbeaten run come to an end at the hands of Chery Tiggo, marking their first straight-sets defeat in over five years.
Struggles aside, Jema Galanza, one of three remaining players from Creamline’s original 2017 roster alongside captain Alyssa Valdez and Pau Soriano, stressed how she and the rest of the team never lost faith in what they were still capable of even when doubts on their championship mettle were casted.
“Happy kami na nailaban namin. May mga parts ng game (versus Petro Gazz) na parang, 'Kakayanin pa ba namin?' 'Makakahabol ba kami?' 'Mananalo ba kami?' pero inisip lang namin na sa dami ng pagsubok namin ngayong conference, ang dami nang nagdududa sa'min, pero kami, ito, nasa harap niyo, kami 'yung mga taong hindi mawawala 'yung tiwala sa isa’t isa," said Galanza.
‘Iba kayo kasi champion team kayo’
For Meneses and the returning Tots Carlos, who went undrafted in her Korean V-League bid, Creamline’s performances through the years might have taken a few hits here and there but one thing about them is that their A-game has shone brightest under pressure when their backs are against the wall.
“We’ve seen Creamline from previous conferences and nakita niyo naman na iba-iba ‘yung nagiging performance ng team, so we will never really know kung hanggang saan, unless nandun na kami sa point na ‘yun. So kami, ‘yung mga coaches, andiyan lang naman sila to guide us, to really push our limits, our volleyball limits.
“Volleyball is not just a game. Malaking bagay din kung paano ka sa game. It’s not just the training, it’s all about your mindset, your attitude. Kung lahat ng meron kami ng teammates ko, pinagsama-sama mo ‘yun, pati sina coach, I think magiging mas okay kami,” said Carlos.
Meneses added: “Sabi ko nga sa kanila, iba kayo kasi champion team kayo so ipakita natin na malayo pa ‘yung Creamline at kaya pang iimprove. ‘Yun naman lagi ‘yung sinasabi namin.”
And for four-time PVL champion mentor, trust continues to be the foundation in which Creamline’s longstanding dominance has been built on.
“Number one diyan ‘yung trust. Ako, as a head coach ng Creamline, (ngayon ko lang) maranasan ‘yung three losses (sa elimination round). ‘Yung game, nandiyan naman palagi eh, so kung may trust sa isa’t isa, walang masyadong mag-woworry. Kumbaga, gawin lang ‘yung trabaho and healthy ‘yung team, makakabawi at makakabawi,” Meneses said.
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