ALL eyes were on Creamline’s long-awaited reunion on Thursday, with Jia de Guzman, Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez back in the fold after their respective absences.
But the much-hyped return of the Cool Smashers’ championship core failed to deliver an instant payoff.
PLDT spoiled the occasion with a clinical 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 sweep, stretching its head-to-head mastery over Creamline to five straight wins across a two-year span.
READ: PLDT asserts mastery of Creamline in impressive PVL season debut
The gap was most evident on the scoring front as Savi Davison’s 26-point outburst in just three sets eclipsed the combined output of Creamline’s decorated attackers in Pons (13), Alyssa Valdez (5), Galanza (4) and Michele Gumabao (3).
So where did things fall apart for the 10-time champions?
For Galanza, the buildup to opening night was as much about excitement as it was uncertainty, with the reunited core still trying to find its footing.
“Nu’ng nag-start ‘yung training, nakaka-excite na lahat, kumpleto na kami, ganyan. Hindi nga namin alam kung paano mangyayari, kung sino ‘yung first six, kung anong itatakbo ng training namin,” Galanza said.
Creamline finished with just 38 attack points in three sets and was far from its usual standard, but the former PVL MVP was far from alarmed.
“Ngayong game naman, sad talaga na kinulang kami lahat. Pero sa tagal namin magkakasama, magkakakilala, alam din namin na makakabawi kami next week at sa mga susunod pang games,” she added.
Complete but still quite incoherent
Galanza’s own return came after missing the Reinforced Conference due to a shin injury, one she refused to rush back from despite being cleared late last year.
Now fully healthy, she admitted that the emotions of finally stepping back on court also came with understandable rust.
“Siyempre kulang. Alam ko naman yung trinaining ko buong January at kinulang din talaga,” Galanza said.
“Siguro may excitement, may kaba, ganyan. Nakakapanibago na ngayon lang ulit ko nakabalik. Wala namang pressure or wala naman akong iniisip talaga.
“’Yung sanayan lang ba ulit, kung paano ka maglalaro sa loob ng court kasi four months din akong hindi nakapaglaro. Ang tagal ko ring hindi na-feel ‘yung pressure, ‘yung paglalaro, so siguro naninibago lang talaga.”
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