CANDON CITY — For one family in this northern part of the country, the game of volleyball has taken on a new meaning. It loves the game so much that family members were perhaps the only ones who went out of their way to have shirts specially made for the occasion when Creamline joined three other teams for two out-of-town PVL games in Ilocos Sur over the weekend.
It's been one year and one month since the PVL visited this city to bring the sport to the masses. And during that period, not one day probably passed when members of the Rosario family did not think of the moment when their favorite team - Creamline - will finally hit town and give them and local folks not only a game, but a memory.
True enough, thousands showed up, 7,281 to be exact. And most them waited two hours under the heat of the sun before they were allowed inside the Candon City Arena.
READ: Full strength Creamline smashes Akari in straight sets
But the Rosario family, all seven members of them - one man and six females - were the special ones. They were among a limited number of fans granted a chance to meet their idols in person during the meet-and-greet part of the pre-game activities.
The Rosarios were there to cheer for Creamline. They were not disappointed. The Cool Smashers made short work of Akari in a rematch of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference. Petro Gazz trounced Farm Fresh in straight sets in the other game.
The Rosarios, all born and raised in this city, were distinct in that they wore identical pink shirts with the names of each of their favorite players emblazoned in front.
Two hours early at the venue after over a year-long wait are spare change compared to how long they’ve been Cool Smashers fans. When asked how long, Benjie exaggerated a bit.
“Since birth po, matagal na matagal na. Magagaling silang lahat, magaganda, at sikat pa,” said Benjie, the lone male in the Rosario clan that went to see the game.
Close (Creamline) family ties
When asked who their favorite Cool Smashers were, they had more than just one player in mind, as their ‘shirseys’ would suggest.
“Jema Galanza, [Alyssa] Valdez, [Tots] Carlos po!”
Though the face-to-face meeting was special, nothing beats the experience of watching their idols do what they do best.
“Super excited po kami. Sobrang happy, super, super happy kami na nakita namin silang lahat in person. Hindi namin inaasahan na mapipili kami,” an ecstatic Benjie said.
The Rosarios had a wish for the PVL team that has become almost family to them, telling them to continue its winning ways.
“Sana galingan niyo palagi at sana manalo pa kayo. Goodluck po palagi, Creamline Cool Smashers.”
Should Creamline and the PVL return to Ilocos Sur in the near future, expect the Rosarios to be there, for sure.
As Benjie puts it, “Super excited po kami sa susunod [na balik nila dito]. 100 percent!”
Near, far, PVL’s wherever you are
The PVL’s move to bring games to the provinces is part of a program to bring fans, friends, and families together for the love of volleyball.
Benjie’s family is proof that the sport’s growth goes beyond its mainstream popularity.
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