What’s next for two-way ace Bernadeth Pons after establishing her place in Creamline’s galaxy of greats?
Since returning to indoor play in 2023, Bernadeth Pons has steadily grown into one of the Creamline Cool Smashers’ most dangerous weapons.
From starting her Creamline career as a sparkplug, Pons would reach new heights during the latter stages of the 2024 PVL season. With stars Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez sitting out, Pons stepped up for the Cool Smashers during the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences, helping the team achieve Philippine volleyball’s first-ever Grand Slam last year.
Today, Pons remains as valuable as ever in Creamline’s ongoing 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign. But even with her MVP-level impact, Pons knows that she has a lot more left to show for the Cool Smashers.
“Actually, gusto ko lang din talaga maging consistent, and ‘yung goal ko lang talaga everyday, sa training pa lang is mag-improve ako kahit one percent lang everyday,” Pons said following Creamline’s thrilling 25-19, 26-24, 23-25, 15-9 win against the Cignal HD Spikers over the weekend.
Being part of Creamline’s championship core, teaming up with the likes of Valdez, Carlos, Galanza, and Michele Gumabao provide added motivation for Pons’ continued drive for perfection.
“Parang sa training kasi nacha-challenge din talaga ako kasi sobrang competitive ng lahat, so pahirapan talaga pumuntos, walang nagpapabagsak ng bola. So as a player talaga, nacha-challenge din ako ng mga kasama ko so parang sobrang laking bagay ‘yun sakin na pagdating ng laro, hindi ako papayag na basta-basta na lang,” reflected the five-foot-eight spiker out of Talisay, Negros Occidental.
Bernadeth Pons is the Creamline’s second-leading scorer for the All-Filipino Conference, averaging 12.28 points across eight games played. The 28-year-old is also fresh off a stellar outing against the HD Spikers, dropping a conference-high 27 points accompanied by a team-high 14 excellent digs on floor defense.
Having seen her dedication towards winning, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses heaped praise on the outside hitter amid her rise to PVL stardom. Behind her numbers, Meneses said, is a champion-level work ethic she’s consistently shown since day one.
“Syempre deserve talaga ni Pons ‘yung slot niya sa amin kasi talagang sobrang magaling siya magpa-kundisyon ng katawan, napaka-aga lagi sa ensayo tsaka ‘yung determination niya sa game, laging nandiyan,” Meneses said.
But like Pons, Meneses is confident that the former FEU ace will have more to show as the All-Filipino Conference continues.
“So talagang masaya kami para kay Pons kasi talagang nakabalik siya from beach sa indoor, and siguro, mas madami pang ipapakita si Pons sa mga next game, so happy kami kasi talagang nagagamit talaga namin si Pons sa galing niya,” the champion mentor said of his prized outside hitter.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.