Coming off a painful loss in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals last week, Creamline is ready to embark on its journey to redemption, setting its sights on a formidable Pool A group in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
Denied a historic five-peat and 11th overall PVL title, the Sherwin Meneses-coached squad is eager to quickly move on from its defeat to Petro Gazz and is now focused on the challenge of facing nine-time Kazakhstan Women’s Volleyball League champion Zhetysu VC and storied Jordan club Al Naser in their pursuit of glory on the continental stage.
“Kailangan maka-move on agad, especially, may AVC tournament kami. I think yung mga players naman naka-recover naman agad,” Meneses said.
“Mga competitive kasi mga players. Kaya at the end of the day, siguro nag-iisip din yan. Pero, sa ngayon, nakabalik na sila sa kani-kanilang mga bahay. So, hopefully, maka-recover sila. Pero, I think, makaka-recover naman mabilis yung team. Bawi na lang siguro sa ibang conference, especially sa AVC. Laging competitive naman yung Creamline.”
Along with a solid mix of firepower in Bernadeth Pons, Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, and Pangs Panaga, the Cool Smashers have also made a tactical addition to their roster, bringing in Kazakh middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Russian outside hitter Anastasya Kudryashova.
Both players have faced Zhetysu VC as teammates for VC Kuanysh in the Kazakhstan Women’s National League.
The 6-foot Kolomoyets and the 6-foot-4 Kudryashova aim to provide valuable support to the returning American outside hitter Erica Staunton, who played a key role in helping the Cool Smashers secure the coveted Grand Slam in the 2024 Reinforced and Invitational Conferences, respectively.
(C) PVL Images
“I’m excited. I’m excited to play with Creamline again. I love these girls. I love playing with these girls. And then, face some different competitions. So, I’m happy to be back and to get to play some more volleyball. Yeah, I’m really excited,” Staunton said.
With the scoring load already managed by the towering import trio, Creamline—alongside key veterans like team captain Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Bea de Leon, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla—has also enlisted decorated setter Rhea Villarete to strengthen its quest for redemption on the continental stage.
Villarete’s addition enhances Creamline’s wing rotation, which includes Pons, Galanza, Carlos, Valdez, and Gumabao, with her calm playmaking.
She will also work alongside three-time PVL Best Setter Kyle Negrito to unlock the full potential of the Cool Smashers’ middle blocker rotation, which includes De Leon, Panaga, Bernardo, and Kolomoyets.
“Siyempre, kailangan mo i-accept, and ‘yon nga, kailangan mo i-embrace talaga, kahit gaano kahirap, andiyan na ‘yan e. Kailangan mo lang talaga daanan kung ano ‘yung mga kailangan mong gawin, kailangan mong adjustments, opportunity pa rin ‘yan para may matutunan pa rin ako,” Villarete said.
The Cool Smashers will kick off the tournament against Al Naser on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena, before concluding pool play against Zhetysu VC on Monday at 7 p.m.
