NO one has embodied the ‘next woman up’ mentality down to a tee than Creamline star Bernadeth Pons.
Without champion-MVP spikers Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza, Pons emerged as the second-best local scorer in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference preliminary round with 131 points (16.4 per game).
READ: Creamline shows championship mettle in sweep of Petro Gazz
And by dethroning two-time conference winner Petro Gazz in a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 quarterfinals sweep, the undermanned Cool Smashers are two wins away from their ninth PVL title.
The scores might suggest a one-sided show, but Pons knew how any game against the Angels - may it be in the prelims or the playoffs - is never a cakewalk even after Creamline had won 25 of their last 32 meetings.
Hence, the Cool Smashers made sure to give Petro Gazz the respect it deserved all-match long, regardless of what the scoreboard showed.
“Sobrang gusto lang din talaga namin manalo at in-expect din talaga namin na ‘di siya ganun kadali. Nire-remind din namin ‘yung isa’t-isa na hindi talaga madali ‘to. Sobrang respeto talaga namin sa Petro Gazz. Sobrang galing nila, beterano sila na team, matatagal na rin silang magkakasama,” Pons told SPIN.ph.
“Kahit lamang na kami kanina, babawi ‘yan sila, pero ‘di kami pumayag. Alam namin na kapag nabigyan pa namin sila ng chance, talagang iga-grab nila. Nandu’n lang din talaga ‘yung will talaga na makuha ‘tong game na ‘to.”
MVP race on for Pons
The early playoff exit of Angels ace and reigning PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle boosted Pons' case as a frontrunner for what could be her career-first MVP award.
It’s the least of her priorities, however, as Creamline’s title chase enters its homestretch.
“Di ko rin talaga siya iniisip. Basta every game talaga, gusto ko na mag-contribute para sa team at maibigay ko ‘yung best ko. Kung meron man, bonus na lang ‘yun,” said Pons.
Her top priority for herself? Filling in the gaps in the Cool Smashers' supposedly shorthanded offense and making every minute on the taraflex count.
“Kailangan din talaga mag-step up sa team kasi ang dami talagang wala ngayon. Masaya ako na nakikita ko ‘yung progress ng pinaghihirapan namin every day," she said.
“‘Di pa naman natatapos. May susunod pang games at marami ring mga lapses pa sa past games namin na kailangang trabahuin pa rin para mas maging pulido ‘yung pasok namin sa semis (versus Cignal).”
Facing her former mentor
To reach the finals, Pons & Co. must outlast a near-perfect Cignal side that won eight of its nine matches this conference under Shaq delos Santos.
Pons and coach Shaq go way back, not only as former key figures of the FEU women's volleyball program, but also as pillars of perennial Philippine Superliga (PSL) champion side Petron nearly a decade ago.
Still friends off the court, only their allegiances on it will matter on Thursday as they shoot for a spot in the championship match.
"Excited ako na makalaban din sila. Alam ko na kilala ako ni coach at kung paano ako maglaro, pero siyempre mas marami na akong baon ngayon," said Pons.
"Si coach Shaq naman, hindi naman napuputol ‘yung communication namin, minsan naman nag-uusap pa rin kami. Proud siya sa nagiging performance ko ngayon, so syempre isa rin ‘yun sa motivation ko para mas mag-perform pa lalo, lalo na sila ‘yung makakaharap namin.
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