The Creamline Cool Smashers kicked off their AVC Champions League campaign on the right foot, sweeping Jordan’s Al Naser.
The Creamline Cool Smashers scored a massive statement win on Easter Sunday, acing their 2025 AVC Champions’ League opener with an impressive 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 sweep over the Al Naser volleyball club at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The 11-time PVL champs quickly overcame a slow start in Set 1 and asserted themselves over the Jordanian club in the winning effort.
“Syempre importante ‘yung game ngayon, kasi I think makaka-ensayo pa kami ng ilang days para sa adjustments ng three imports, especially sa two imports namin. So I think in one or two days, mas gaganda pa ‘yung performance namin,” head coach Sherwin Menses said post-game.
After an emphatic comeback to steal the opening frame, the Cool Smashers fully took control in Set 2, which saw Al Nasser play catch-up throughout the frame.
This momentum lasted until Set 3, where the Cool Smashers ultimately sealed their opening day victory over the Jordan-based crew.
Winning welcome for Creamline’s new imports
Sunday’s game saw the debuts of veteran middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets and wing spiker Anastasiya Kudryashova for the Cool Smashers.
Kudryashova finished with nine markers built on eight spikes and one ace, with her taller-than-usual frame proving to be a huge advantage against the Jordan-based squad.
Kolomoyets, meanwhile, finished with a solid eight markers, including two blocks and a service ace, to backstop the one-two punch of returning Erica Staunton (17 points) and Alyssa Valdez (10 points).
Both imports made sure to show some love for their new teammates after the opening day victory.
“Our teammates, they’re the best, they are the absolute best! Every single one of them brings a lot of energy, even like the bench, it doesn’t really matter. Everyone is really supporting each other and showing love to each other. It’s really nice playing in Creamline and we love it!” said Kudryashova, who spoke on behalf of Kolomoyets post-game.
Equally impressed with the two reinforced were Valdez and Staunton, who pointed out the added energy that they bring to the Cool Smashers.
In particular, the six-foot Kolomoyets, whose eight points came with a share of highly-animated celebrations, fit perfectly with Creamline’s “happy, happy” mantra.
“Nastiya, her energy’s great and she makes me laugh. But I think a lot of Creamline’s success come from them just being able to have fun on the court and really enjoying volleyball, so them bringing that kind of energy is really helpful, both Ana [Kudryashova] and Nastiya [Kolomoyets],” said Staunton.
Added Valdez, “It was kind of a good balance, Ana being that younger addition to the team, so she’s a little bit more serious. Tas Nastiya is the one giving us the energy, even if she’s the one who is more experienced in playing volleyball.”
“Definitely as a team also, we are learning so much from them, not only just skills, but also the character and personality of the team both on and off the court, so they’re really a good addition.”
A familiar place for the Phenom
In some ways, Sunday also serves as a comeback for Alyssa Valdez on the international stage, having last represented the country during the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.
The Phenom has previously expressed her desire for another chance to represent the country, which was finally fulfilled through this year’s AVC Champions League.
“Very overwhelming for me, because it never crossed my mind to represent the Philippines again in any competition. But we’ll take this — not just me, but the whole Creamline Cool Smashers — very overwhelming, but very exciting to be able to represent [the Philippines]…So it’s nice to be always given that opportunity, and the only thing that we could do is to [represent the country] with honor and pride all the time,” Valdez said.
As Valdez mentioned, the rest of Creamline is accompanying her this time around, which serves as an added fuel to play her best in the one-week meet.
“Extra motivation talaga having our flag on our chest, and representing as well the Creamline Cool Smashers. Doble-doble ‘yung inspiration namin to fight today, and it’s just so nice to be able to play for the Philippines and play like there’s no tomorrow all the time. Because this opportunity that’s given to us, it’s not [presented] all the time, so we’re gonna grab it, and try to represent the country well in this stint,” concluded the Phenom.
Let’s not forget about the rookie either…
Absent from Creamline’s AVC Champions League lineup is the veteran trio of opposite spiker Tots Carlos, middle blocker Bea de Leon, and libero Denise Lazaro-Revilla.
Both Carlos and De Leon are recuperating from minor injuries, according to head coach Sherwin Meneses, and have since been replaced by Kudryashova and Kolomoyets for the international meet.
Meneses remained mum on Lazaro’s absence, but it did open up the depth chart for their lone 2024 PVL Rookie Draft pick in Fil-Canadian libero Aleiah Torres.
Seldom used in her first three PVL conferences, Torres on Sunday stepped up as the second libero to Kyla Atienza, recording 10 excellent digs as she held down the floor for Creamline.
“Definitely happy to have this opportunity, you know, every practice I’ve just been trying to work hard to make the ates better and make practices competitive for them so I’m just really grateful and happy that I’m able to be on the court this time for the AVC,” Torres said of her solid performance against Al Naser.
On top of proving her mettle as a defensive ace, Torres also gets the once in a lifetime to compete on the international stage, which is no doubt a major milestone in her young career.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent the Philippines and also be able to connect to my roots and my culture. I’m just happy to be able to have this opportunity,” said the Brock University alumna.
Creamline will now look to sweep Pool A on Monday, April 21, as they turn to face Kazakhstan-based powerhouse VC Zhetysu.
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.