What did the Creamline Cool Smashers learn from their streak-busting loss at the hands of the PLDT High Speed Hitters?
February 15, 2025 saw the Creamline Cool Smashers’ unprecedented 19-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, midway through the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Cool Smashers were dealt a 28-30, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18, 14-16 upset by the High Speed Hitters, their first loss in six months and three conferences since falling to the Petro Gazz Angels in August last year.
However, team captain Alyssa Valdez sees this as a wake-up call amid Creamline’s campaign in the current All-Filipino Conference.
“Honestly, I think we’ve been through different losses naman throughout the conferences, but that was actually something na masasabi naman na wake-up call talaga, but we were humbled by that loss so we worked harder the next day, and make sure na gagawin namin ‘yung trabaho and roles namin,” she said.
“So with that loss siguro, we would say na we have so much things, so many things to improve on pa, so it was a good loss for us.”
Similar to Valdez, star opposite Tots Carlos is also viewing this loss as a learning experience, especially with her own recovery from a knee injury. In her view, it also came at a perfect time, given that it occurred in their penultimate game of the conference preliminary rounds.
“But with the team, I think we all know kung ano naman ‘yung mga pagkululang namin and si Coach Sherwin [Meneses] naman, I think maganda rin ‘yung na-experience namin ‘yung ganoong games before the knockout games,” she explained.
“Yun, lagi din naman ganon ‘yung mga coaches namin na we learn from the loss, but also don’t forget na we still have more games, more important games.”
Creamline went on to bounce back against the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday, with a 25-15, 26-24, 25-19 sweep to secure a top-seed finish heading into the conference qualifying rounds.
As they prepare for the next round, the Cool Smashers will now have a clearer direction on what to refine as they will face the 12th-seeded Chameleons once more.
For Valdez, it’s a matter of fixing the little things for the reigning Grand Slam winners as they head into the six-month-long conference’s more crucial stages.
“I think we’ll take it one game at a time, but definitely one of the skills na na-improve na ng halos lahat would be the system and the blocking. So I guess we’re gonna work on our counterattacks, basics, disiplina most especially sa sistema namin,” she reflected after Creamline’s win over the Chameleons.
“May mga sistema kami na kailangan pa rin ma-perfect, basics! Like pag may freeball, mahihinang bola, at the end of the day, kailangan pa rin namin siyang ma-perfect din and ‘yun ‘yung mga minor details, but will help us at the end of the day, and ‘yun ‘yung magma-matter lalo pag dikitan.”
Banner images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.