CREAMLINE will have to take the long route to a record 20th PVL semifinals appearance, navigating a play-in stage it has never been part of.
The Cool Smashers blew their first shot in a five-set qualifying round loss to Cignal, but the camp remains far from shaken.
READ: Cignal keeps its promise to itself in takedown of Creamline
“Nandu’n na eh pero hindi pa namin nakuha,” said Bernadeth Pons. “’Di naman sobrang bagsak ‘yung team kasi sabi nga ni Coach [Sherwin Meneses], ‘wag kayo masyadong malungkot kasi hindi pa tayo tapos.”
The sting was sharper for Pons, who wasn’t at full strength.
The former PVL MVP missed the last two games in the preliminaries due to a popliteus strain, a minor injury at the back of the knee she sustained in a March 12 loss to Akari, limiting her buildup heading into the Cignal game.
She still dropped a team-best 20 points in the loss to the Super Spikers, but knows she’s not quite back to full speed.
“To be honest, hindi pa talaga kasi hindi pa rin talaga ako masyadong nakakasabay du’n sa ball training nu’ng mga nakaraan kasi focused talaga ako sa rehab,” Pons said.
“Kailangan ko pang ibalik ‘yung sarili ko du’n sa intensity talaga ng game.”
History or infamy for Creamline
With league action set to resume after the Holy Week break, Pons and Creamline are now eyeing redemption against Akari as they try to survive the play-ins and avoid one of the earliest exits in franchise history.
“Sobrang importante rin kasi talaga ‘yung natitirang games sa’min para makuha namin ‘yung spots sa semis. Pero ‘yun talaga, hindi binibigay ni Lord nang madali, so another challenge din ‘to para sa team,” she said.
“Meron pa kaming chance at nasa ’min pa rin ‘yung chance na ‘yun.”
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