Creamline’s dominance inside the taraflex has been put to a stop a few times already in the past few years.
The same cannot be said, however, about the team’s gigantic fanbase on the stands. For the longest time, the color pink has dominated the stands of the Premier Volleyball League venues.
That, until Choco Mucho’s own army of fans, flocked to the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday to back the Flying Titans in its Game Two semis encounter against the Cool Smashers.
In the end, Creamline got the best of Choco Mucho in the form of a four-set, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15 victory.
While it was a clear win for the Cool Smashers — who now entered the finals for the sixth consecutive time — Alyssa Valdez thinks otherwise.
SM’s official count for paying spectators is 14,322. This does not include the venue and league staff in the venue and the people inside the VIP boxes.
For her, seeing the supporters inside the venue — the biggest in Philippine sports ever since the pandemic — is a huge victory for the country’s volleyball community.
“I’m very happy for the sport itself and it’s just so nice,” said Valdez after the Game Two victory.
“Probably this is one of the biggest comebacks in sports na nandito tayong lahat sa MOA Arena.
“So I’m just really thankful na no matter kung sinong iniidolo nila, sinong sinusuportahan nila, we’re just so thankful for all of them na binibigay nila yung suporta nila sa aming lahat — sa mga sinusuportahan nila,” she added.
Valdez put on a show for the fans, delivering 17 points to push the Cool Smashers to another trip to the finals.
And after seeing the amount of support that Philippine volleyball received in trying times such as this, Valdez is hoping to see more fans express their support live at the arena.
“We’re just happy to welcome everyone here kung saan ‘man tayo mag lalaro, welcome na welcome sila and sana mas dumami pa ang family natin sa volleyball community.”
