THEY say having too many stars is a good problem to have. Truth is, it can still be a problem if you cannot make it all work.
Creamline has found itself in that spot of late, blowing its first two chances to clinch a qualifying round berth after back-to-back losses to Akari and Farm Fresh, just when it looked to be cruising on a five-game winning streak.
READ SCENARIOS: Four-way race for last two PVL qualifying spots
Alyssa Valdez, however, is not about to point fingers at a suddenly shaky rotation, even if she has spent most of this conference watching games unfold from the bench.
The Creamline captain has started just once in the Cool Smashers’ first eight games in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries. She did not play at all in one match, and came off the bench in the other six.
The numbers reflect that reduced role as Valdez normed just 4.9 points per game so far, a far cry from the production long associated with the franchise icon.
Her best outing came in her lone start, a 14-point effort in Creamline’s four-set loss to Farm Fresh. Even that opportunity only opened up because the team's top scoring duo in Jema Galanza and Bernadeth Pons was both unavailable that day in Sta. Rosa.
So yes, the question is fair to ask: is Creamline leaving too much of the 'Phenom' on the table?
Valdez does not see it that way.
“Honestly, it's very healthy. It's a healthy competition between all of us, not just like amongst sa amin ni Jema and ni Dij [Rodriguez], ni Pons,” Valdez told SPIN.ph, referring to Creamline’s loaded outside hitter rotation.
The bigger picture in it all
For the longtime face of the franchise, the bigger picture still matters more than minutes, touches, or starts.
Because for all the recent stumbles, her trust in the team she helped build has not changed.
“That's one thing na makikita din natin ‘yung growth and maturity ng team. Kung ano ‘yung kailangan, ‘yun naman din ‘yung gusto din ni Coach She [Meneses]. Nakikita rin niya kung anong mas kailangan ng team at a specific situation.
“We’re very, very happy for everybody, and really looking forward na mas tumaas pa ‘yung competition namin sa isa't isa para mas maganda pa ‘yung mga games din namin and mas gumanda pa rin ‘yung game namin as a team.”
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