The Creamline Cool Smashers secured the first-ever Philippine volleyball Grand Slam in a season filled with stretches of uncertainty, and even vulnerability.
The dominant darlings have finally done it.
After coming so close in 2022, the Creamline Cool Smashers have finally achieved the Philippine volleyball’s first-ever Grand Slam, escaping the gritty Cignal HD Spikers to snag the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference championship and become the first squad to win three conferences in one season.
Fittingly enough, it came in an adversity-filled season. Yes, the Cool Smashers were still contenders, but there was a hint of uncertainty for all three conferences this year.
Their dynasty seemingly showed cracks in the All-Filipino Conference as they struggled to enter the Final Four. Months later, they were left without star gunners Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza in the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
Yet it was in these trying times that their championship grit shone. The Cool Smashers ended up proving themselves in the AFC, immediately rebounding in the Final Four to sweep sister team Choco Mucho in the Finals.
Without their star trio, Creamline’s supporting cast became the Reinforced Conference’s main options, led by Bernadeth Pons and Michele Gumabao as they backstopped import Erica Staunton.
At the end of the conference, it was #MVPons coming into fruition, with Pons’ two-way excellence helping Creamline end their Reinforced Conference title drought.
The one-week Invitationals weren’t any easier. Immediately after winning, it was back to the grind for the Creamline Cool Smashers who now had to manage their health and fitness given the tight schedule.
From Pons in the Reinforced, it was Michele Gumabao turning it up a notch in the Invitationals within Creamline’s locals en route to the Grand Slam. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed either as she was named Conference MVP.
The Cool Smashers’ championship heart was on full display in their Finals against Cignal, who was equally hungry for their first PVL title. And it showed, with the MJ Perez-led HD Spikers looking poised to deny the pink reign.
But again, it was Creamline who overcame the odds. Down 2-1, the Cool Smashers clawed back to force a decider thanks to a cardiac fourth set marked by long rallies and clutch kills.
And the rest was history. Within a span of one week, the Cool Smashers had become 10-time PVL champs, and banished any ghost from the last time they came close to getting the Grand Slam.
‘Creamline pa rin!’
While 2024 was difficult, Creamline had still won the AFC. But it was the Reinforced and the Invitationals that proved to be more challenging points of the year.
The Reinforced Conference was always seen as Petro Gazz’s specialty, having won two out of the last three iterations. Creamline, on the other hand, last won in 2018 with Thailand’s Kuttika Kapewin and American Laura Schaudt.
The Cool Smashers did win the inaugural Invitationals against KingWhale Taipei, but the Japan V.League Divison 3’s Kurashiki Ablaze proved to be too much a year later.
“I think kita naman sa game na hindi madali [to win the Grand Slam], pero pinaghihirapan talaga and lagi naman sinasabi samin ni coach [Sherwin Meneses], the games won’t be easy, lalo na lahat ng kalaban gusto matalo Creamline,” reflected Gumabao.
This year, Creamline swept Petro Gazz to enter the Reinforced Conference semifinals, while they dented Kurashiki’s repeat hopes that indirectly set up their all-Filipino clash with Cignal.
“And lalo na ‘yung season nga na ‘to, tuloy-tuloy, so mahirap. Pinakamahirap? Oo, kasi first time din kami naka-experience ng tuloy-tuloy na games, so hindi lang siya talaga test ng skills pero pati mindset, physical, pati emotional. Mahirap pero kakayanin basta sama-sama kami.”
Continuity is one thing that kept the Creamline Cool Smashers afloat, with this core being intact for about three years now, or around 10 conferences together.
So while vulnerable, there was no hint of uncertainty for their 2024 season.
“Kahit na may nawala kami sa Creamline, matagal na kami magkakasama so walang problema kahit sinong nasa loob. Alam ng bawa’t isa samin ‘yung role nila, and gagawin namin ‘yung role namin…and ‘yung respeto din talaga namin sa isa’t isa, sa mga sacrifice and sa paghirap ng bawa’t isa,” reflected Finals MVP and setter Kyle Negrito.
“Siguro ‘yun lang din talaga ‘yung pinanghawakan namin this season, and happy kami na ‘di naman kulang! Sabi nga ni bossing [Sherwin Meneses], pito lang naman naglalaro sa court. Sobra sobra pa kami. So ‘yun, sabi nga ni bossing…Creamline pa rin!”
Likewise, it highlighted the deep trust within Creamline’s camp, from Meneses’ coaching, up to the players themselves. Besides experience and continuity, this is what allowed the Cool Smashers to successfully cover for their losses.
“It says that the team just really trusts each other and tiwala rin kami talaga kay coach. Kung anong sinabi ni coach, kung anong rotation, anong pasok namin, kung sino nasa loob, sino maglalaro,” said Gumabao.
“At buong tiwala namin sa isa’t isa na kaya namin i-angat ‘yung bawa’t isa everytime may nahihirapan, anytime na may magsastruggle. I think ‘yun talaga ‘yung pinaka-lesson sa amin na kaya namin, we can cover for each other and we’ve got each other’s backs. ‘Yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa na basta talaga magtutulungan kami. We really work hard as a team and umpisa talaga sa practice.”
At this point, the Creamline Cool Smashers’ legacy has long been established in the PVL, and Philippine volleyball as a whole.
Yet it was in a period of vulnerability that the dominant darlings secured their biggest catch, and added another page into the history books.
As the saying goes, may ibubuga pa pala.
Creamline pa rin pala.
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.