September 5 ------ The dynasty lives on as Creamline ruled the PVL yet again by ending Akari's improbable dream run in the winner-take-all title game, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17, for a record ninth league championship. And for the first time in their seven years of glory, the Cool Smashers seized the PVL crown without any of its champion MVPs in Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Jia de Guzman due to either injuries, national team duties or overseas commitments.
In what is now their 16th podium and 12th finals appearance, the same old story has written itself for a Creamline side that refuses to relinquish its throne atop Philippine volleyball’s greatest club teams. When Creamline won its eighth PVL title in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference, captain Valdez deemed such title romp as their toughest one yet.
But for Michele Gumabao, who’s been with Creamline in all nine of their championship wins, claiing their ninth without their star trio was a whole new challenge in itself. “Kahit na nakikita nila na three sets lang yung finals, parang hindi namin matatanggal ‘yung whole story of the conference that the team has been through so many challenges, ‘yung semis na muntikan na, and ‘yung ibang mga games talaga na talagang super grabe yung kapit,” said Gumabao. “Thankful lang din talaga na nairaos talaga kami ni Lord this season and nabigay talaga sa’min ‘yung championship na to. Sobrang big blessing ito for us. Mahirap siguro ‘to as compared to last conference. I don't know. Mas mahirap siguro ‘yung kabuuan na pinagdaanan talaga ng team this season kasi ang dami din talagang nawala.”
Even soft-spoken Creamline mentor and now six-time champion head coach Sherwin Meneses couldn’t deny how sweet of a title win number nine has been for the Cool Smashers. “Matamis na matamis. Kahit na wala ‘yung four players namin pero nagtiwala talaga ako sa team namin kasi talagang nag-eensayo sila. At kahit nandyan ‘yung mga star players namin, hindi sila talaga nagpapabaya.”
Pons, who copped conference and Finals MVP honors with 19 points, 13 receptions and 12 digs in the title game, beamed with pride following a huge breakthrough in her volleyball career. “Fulfilling kasi alam ko kung paano ako magtrabaho every day, kung paano ako mag-extra effort sa sarili ko rin para maging 100 percent ako sa team kasi yung injury ko nga before. “Sobrang ginusto namin na makuha itong championship na ito and sobrang saya kasi first reinforced conference ko rin ito with Creamline so I’m so happy.”
Source: spin.ph
Comments