With its starting wing spikers unavailable, Creamline needed players off the bench to step up.
Fortunately, it is the Reinforced Conference of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season, and American import Erica Staunton has been filling in one of the outside hitter positions, adjusting well recently.
Michele Gumabao has also been effective on the opposite side. On Tuesday evening, starting outside hitter Bernadeth Pons finally clicked for the Cool Smashers.
The 5-foot-7 Talisay, Negros Occidental unloaded a PVL career-high of 25 points, complemented by outstanding defensive performance, tallying 23 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs.
And her performance helped lead Creamline to a four-set triumph over Chery Tiggo, 25-20, 24-26, 25-16, 25-19.
For the former national team beach volleyball star, it’s about committing to the role assigned to her by the coaches, whether in the starting unit or coming off the bench.
“Actually, every conference, same lang naman eh. Kasi first six ka or hindi, kailangan mo rin talagang gawin ‘yung role mo. Kung ipasok ka, or kahit nasa labas ka man, meron pa rin kaniya-kaniyang role,” said the 27-year-old Pons.
“Sabi nga nila coach na ‘wag na naming hanapin ‘yung wala. Kung sino ‘yung nandiyan, ‘yan muna. So, ‘yun.”
(C) PVL Images
The Cool Smashers do not have Jema Galanza as she is fulfilling Alas Pilipinas duties, like the other national team PVL players.
Also not playing yet for Creamline this conference are multiple-time MVP recipients Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez.
This performance by the Far Eastern University product was also driven by her previous game, where she was limited to just nine points despite the Cool Smashers beating the Farm Fresh Foxies in four sets.
“Personally, ‘yung last game ko,” quipped Pons on what motivated her to explode this match.
“Kasi medyo disappointed ako sa sarili ko, sa performance ko kasi alam ko na mas may ibibigay pa ‘ko, mas kaya ko pang mag-contribute sa team.”
The victory pushed Creamline to back-to-back wins after dropping its opener against PLDT in a five-set heart-crusher.
The Cool Smashers are now tied with the Crossovers for the second and third spots at 2-1, just below the 2-0 PLDT High Speed Hitters, who are battling the Nxled Chameleons as of publishing.
