Creamline had a shot at a three-peat in the Premier Volleyball League on Sunday evening.
But as the confetti rained down from the rafters, their dynasty came crashing down as well.
Though they came short of their ultimate goal, the Cool Smashers have no intention of falling into a pit of regret.
After all, they gave a formidable opponent in the Petro Gazz Angels a battle to remember. But more importantly, as how Creamline setter Jia Morado puts it:
“If you’re going down, you go down fighting talaga.”
The 24-year-old playmaker also believes that having her team tested not just by Petro Gazz but also the rest of the squads in the import-flavored conference, the Cool Smashers will carry valuable experiences onto the next conferences.
“It’s experience gained. Kahit natalo kami today, we learned a lot from especially si [Wilma] Salas and si [Janisa] Johnson,” the PVL Reinforced Conference Best Setter said.
“That’s why we have the Reinforced Conference naman e so we can learn from people who have played from different countries na.
“And we’re not down or anything about this loss. Actually, we still won second place. So, nowhere to go but up,” she continued.
If anything, the Finals defeat only added fuel to the Cool Smashers’ fire. And for their part, receiving such a timely wake-up call will pay dividends come the Open Conference starting this August, in which Creamline will look to defend their throne after its conquest of Ateneo-Motolite last year.
“I guess, mas hungry kami maglaro this All-Filipino. It just shows na we have things we need to improve on and hindi naman kami na-discourage,” the product of Ateneo bared.
“Regardless if you win or you lose a game, you move on to the next one.”
