Watching the Creamline Cool Smashers go through the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference has been an exercise of patience, to say the least.
In order to succeed, the Cool Smashers have had to trust a lot of “processes”. They first had to deal with the processing of their imports’ ITCs to begin the season before even going through the process of getting to know each other, as barely any of them had been teammates prior to the conference.
From the bottom of the standings, the Cool Smashers have somehow made it to the semifinals. While the sudden shift in format certainly favored the Cool Smashers (had the league stuck with the original format, Creamline would have been knocked out after the elimination round), Creamline’s lineup adjustments and highly-improved play were the key boons to their campaign.
San Beda ace Cesca Racraquin turned from an attacker to a libero mid-conference
Making the semifinals was so far-fetched even for Creamline that captain Alyssa Valdez couldn’t help but look back with wonder.
“Akalain mo nga naman na aabot kami no?” the Batangueña told reporters in a humorous tone after Creamline crushed Air Force for the semis spot. “Yun talaga, wala rin talaga sa expectation namin. Pero siyempre, kami as individual players naman, yun din naman talaga ang goal namin in each game, siyempre makuha namin yung win.
“We’re just really happy na nakapasok din talaga kami dito. Marami rin talagang sacrifices, maraming five-setter matches na pinagdaaanan, but nakapasok sa semis.”
The Cool Smashers now look totally different from the floundering troop that started the season. Aside from imports Laura Schaudt and Kuttika Kaewpin, Creamline also added Adamson University standout Jema Galanza midway through the season. Cesca Racraquin, who started the season as an open hitter, now starts at libero while Schaudt moved to the middle to make room for Galanza as a starter.
Adamson skipper Jema Galanza was a late addition to the line-up
Creamline also had to adjust to coach Tai Bundit’s fast style and iconic system, a huge ask even for the best players.
“It’s really hard kasi as a team din naman talaga, lahat ng tinuturuan ni Coach O[liver Almadro] and coach Tai sa Ateneo teams, ang tagal, it’s been how many years para ma-hone sila sa system na meron sila.
“But definitely, our coaches are very patient talaga para konti-konti naming matutunan. And hopefully, ‘yung gradual na pagtuto namin, eventually mas okay yun kaysa sa just an instant. Mas okay yung gradual para ma-instill talaga sa mga minds namin at sa muscle memory namin lahat ng pinapagawa nila,” the three-time V-League Most Valuable Player shared.
Creamline now face the top-seeded Bali Pure Water Defenders, whom they have not beaten this season.
“Pero sabi ko nga kanina, it’s just the beginning of mas harder and tougher tournament sa semis kasi naghihintay na lang sa amin ang Bali Pure at Power Smashers,” the three-time PVL champion concluded.
