RHEA Dimaculangan-Villarete’s stint with Creamline has come to a close.
As expected, the 34-year-old veteran setter has parted ways with the Cool Smashers following the expiration of her short-term contract, which ran through the end of 2025.
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“After a legendary collegiate career and years of pro experience, you gave Creamline a sense of calm in moments of pressure, leadership in every huddle, and heart in every play,” the club wrote on Wednesday.
“Your wisdom and good vibes will always remain part of the Creamline family. Forever grateful, DMAC. Thank you for wearing pink!”
Villarete initially stepped away from a three-year run with PLDT to focus on married life, later taking on a deputy coaching role with the University of the East men’s volleyball team in UAAP Season 87.
In April, Creamline turned to the former Philippine Superliga MVP and three-time Best Setter to inject veteran poise into its 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League campaign, just over a week after surrendering the PVL All-Filipino title to Petro Gazz.
She teamed up with Kyle Negrito in orchestrating the Cool Smashers’ eighth-place finish in the regional meet.
With eight months remaining on her deal after the AVC stint, Villarete continued on with Creamline across three more tournaments in 2025.
She was part of back-to-back bronze-medal finishes in the PVL on Tour and Invitational competitions.
Creamline rebuild
Her final appearance, however, proved a difficult one, as Creamline bowed out of podium contention for the first time in 20 conferences, settling for sixth in the year-ending import-laden tournament.
As the 10-time champions embark on a rebuild following just their third title-less calendar year in franchise history, Villarete becomes the team’s fifth offseason departure after Mafe Galanza, Pau Soriano, Mich Morente, and Rizza Mandapat.
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But as far as the setter position is concerned, Villarete’s departure is expected to be offset by the return of eight-time PVL best setter Jia de Guzman to the Creamline fold, with Negrito still onboard despite the earlier exit of Galanza.
Whether Villarete suits up for another PVL team in the 2026 season or steps back to fully focus on the next chapter of her life remains to be seen.
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