All the other Creamline middle blockers are stepping up to compensate for the loss of starter Ced Domingo, who recently signed with Nakhon Ratchasima in the Volleyball Thailand League.
This was most evident in the Cool Smashers’ dominant 25-15, 25-12, 25-10 victory over Gerflor on Thursday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Just like their first two games in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference, both of which also resulted in wins, Risa Sato and Jeanette Panaga started for Creamline.
Head coach Sherwin Meneses then decided to use all 14 players in the game day lineup against the luckless Defenders.
“Siyempre yung oportunidad na maipasok sa loob, napakahalaga sa team namin kasi yung mga bench players namin talagang pang-first six din,” shared Meneses.
“Tinitingnan namin ngayon kung ano pa talaga yung best para sa team, it’s a good problem para sa aming mga coaches, pero syempre kailangan ng consistency para makalaro ng maganda bawat laro.”
For the first time in a long while, 31-year-old middle blocker Pau Soriano saw floor time and did not disappoint, delivering six points in two sets played. In the previous Invitational Conference, she was mostly a reserve player.
Lorie Bernardo, who was transitioning to a wing spiker role, returned to the middle position and also delivered, scoring four points in limited action.
Panaga added four points, while Sato had three points. They played two sets apiece in the 74-minute match.
“Yung Creamline naman, iisa lang naman yung sistema na sinusunod namin eh. Talagang yung mga middles namin alam din naman nila yung gagawin nila,” said Meneses of the seldom-used Soriano and Bernardo.
“Sadyang medyo advantage lang talaga yung dalawa namin, pero yung reliever namin talagang nagpapakita rin sila ng magandang ensayo, kaya deserve din nila maipasok sa loob.”
Michele Gumabao, who averaged 17.33 points in their three wins, said that regardless of playing time given, all members of the Cool Smashers have only one goal: to win.
Creamline leads the 12-team standings with a spotless 3-0 record.
“Nakikita din naman ng lahat ng nanonood na kahit sinong ipasok, our goal is to just really deliver and contribute for the team,” said Gumabao, whose minutes also decreased during the Invitationals.
“Kahit sa practice, inuumpisahan namin yun na ready kami lahat, kahit anong position, and may playing time o wala, kailangan talaga kaming lahat ay handa.”
