It’s near impossible to replace a four-time MVP in the lineup, but the Creamline Cool Smashers, luckily, have playmaking wizard Jia Morado to spread the wealth.
With Alyssa Valdez in Japan training with the National Team, the Cool Smashers earned a decisive win against the Power Smashers to clinch a semifinals seat, Wednesday night. In the driver’s seat was Morado who tossed 62 excellent sets and had three of her spikers score in double-digits.
For the former Lady Eagle, the Cool Smashers had to show they could still score without Valdez.
“I think there was a lot of adjustment going on. Hindi naman pwede na dahil wala si Ate Ly, mawawalan kami ng aasahan sa loob ng court.
“Sabi nila coach kailangan maniwala na kaya naming pumuntos ng kami-kami. Hindi naman kami na-discourage na naiiwan kami sa mga set. Natutuwa nga ako na lahat ng points, we were fighting to get,” said the 22-year old setter.
Creamline has to keep improving as they are sure Valdez is improving in Japan. Moreover, they want to make sure that when their skipper comes back, the Cool Smashers are still in the running for the Open Conference crown.
“Hindi naman kami sobrang nagre-rely kay Ate Ly even when she was here. Nagre-rely kami sa bawat spiker na papasok sa loob ng court so it wasn’t much of an adjustment,” said the Match MVP for Ateneo during the recently-concluded Battle of the Rivals.
“Of course there’s always room for improvement every game. Bawat laro ‘yun naman ang goal.”
