After a record-breaking Grand Slam in the Premier Volleyball League, the Creamline Cool Smashers are back, determined to retain their crown with a tried-and-tested formula and relentless drive for success.
Returning team captain Alyssa Valdez put it simply: “Our preparation remains unchanged. Just like in previous conferences, we’re focused on training camps and tune-up games.”
This time, Creamline's rigorous buildup included practice games in Taiwan and a pickup match with a Japanese team upon their return to Manila, setting the stage for their title defense in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Having won the last three editions of this prestigious tournament, the Cool Smashers are the clear favorites in this extended six-month conference, set to run through April 2025.
Despite the rest of the 12-team field bolstering their rosters in pursuit of the crown, Creamline comes into this conference with a powerhouse lineup featuring the likes of Valdez and Tots Carlos.
Both players missed the team’s last two tournaments due to injuries, but even in their absence, the Cool Smashers completed a historic sweep, winning the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences to secure a first-ever season Grand Slam.
In fact, the team is on a four-title winning streak, having claimed the 2023 All-Filipino Conference as well.
Creamline opens its title defense against Petro Gazz, a team that made a strong statement with a decisive win over Choco Mucho in last week’s league opener.
Top player Brooke Van Sickle, who scored 34 points in the Angels’ four-set victory, downplayed the win and acknowledged that facing Creamline would be a much tougher challenge.
“Against Creamline, it’s gonna be very, very hard,” said Van Sickle. “We just have to come out fired up and see what kind of magic we can make work.”
However, Van Sickle emphasized that the Angels will bring the same energy and intensity they displayed against the Flying Titans, no matter who they face.
“As a team, we can’t look across the net and back down. We have to bring the same fire and energy against everyone,” she said.
The match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, following the 4 p.m. showdown between Cignal and Farm Fresh.
Like the Cool Smashers, both the HD Spikers and the Foxies are making their debuts in this tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, Watsons, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar, and Mikasa.
Cignal will rely on players like Vanie Gandler, Ces Molina, Jackie Acuña, Roselyn Doria, Riri Meneses and Jovelyn Fernandez, while Farm Fresh will be led by veteran and former Cignal skipper Rachel Anne Daquis, Trisha Tubu, Caitlyn Viray, Rizza Cruz, Alyssa Bertolano, and Jolina de la Cruz, with attention on middle blocker Lorene Toring.
But all eyes are on how the Cool Smashers will perform with a full roster against a hungry Petro Gazz squad eager to dethrone the champs.
Valdez shared that the team is focused on refining coach Sherwin Malonzo’s system, which has been central to their dominance.
“We’re just working to polish coach’s system, and it’s great to have more players back after taking time off due to injuries,” she said.
But she acknowledged the weight of expectations, noting the pressure to meet the high standards set by their fans.
“There’s definitely pressure to maintain our performance from past conferences,” said Valdez. “But whenever we feel it, we remind ourselves to take it one point at a time, especially in this long conference. We need to stay intentional with every action, on and off the court, and approach each point with the right mindset.”
