The Creamline Cool Smashers didn’t have the luxury of playing under Tai Bundit in the early stages of the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference.
But after a quick reshuffle at the helm midway through the import-laden tourney, Bundit now oversees the Cool Smashers from the get-go of this year’s edition of the Open Conference.
Last Sunday, the defending champions raised the curtains to their campaign with a sweep of the returning Air Force Lady Jet Spikers. Still, despite a dominant showing, the Thai mentor saw rough edges in his team’s performance, which urged him to go back to the drawing board and plunge his wards back into training.
“Coach Tai made us focus on defense and blocking for two days after our first game, na nagkulang kami sa floor defense,” Michele Gumabao said.
“Si Coach Tai kasi, for me, he’ll never make you settle. So sa practice, pipigain ka niya hangga’t lumabas lahat.”
Having worked on their lapses, the Cool Smashers looked sharper on Wednesday when they faced a resurgent Motolite Power Builders.
Behind all-rounder Jema Galanza and defensive specialist Kyla Atienza, Creamline collected a total of 66 excellent digs and 24 excellent receptions that helped limit Motolite to just 43 points in three sets.
The former also out-blocked the latter, 7-3, as Galanza and Pau Soriano had two rejections apiece.
“Yung natuwa ako for the game [against Motolite] is kung ano yung prinactice namin, yun talaga yung lumabas,” Gumabao said. “So, doon talaga lumabas.
“Doon ako nagulat, na everyone nakapag-focus doon sa area na yun na talagang pino-point out sa amin ni Coach.”
But while they put a premium on defense, the Cool Smashers still had more than enough energy to deal damage on the offensive end.
Jia Morado fanned out 21 excellent sets to generate 40 points from the attacking department. The four-time PVL Best Setter also buoyed all but one of her attackers into the scoring charts, with Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez leading the way.
The five-time V-League Most Valuable Player had a game-high 15 points off 12 attacks and three aces. Meanwhile, Galanza put up a triple-double of 12 points, 15 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions. Gumabao supplied nine markers, while Soriano added eight.
“It’s a total team effort,” the 26-year-old Valdez beamed, as Creamline enjoys a 2-0 start in the All-Filipino tourney.
“[Coach Tai] pointed out all the things na kailangan namin i-improve, hindi lang the skills. More of mentally talaga.”
“Yun yung mga laging nire-remind samin ni Coach Tai. Napakaliit pero it matters talaga, lalo na sa mga ganitong mga games.”
