The Creamline Cool Smashers know that they can only get better from seizing the chance to compete in the prestigious AVC Champions League.
Despite falling to Nakhon Ratchasima in the AVC Champions League quarterfinals, the Creamline Cool Smashers are nonetheless sticking to the positives as their extended tour of duty comes to a close.
The Cool Smashers on Thursday fell to the Devil Cat 15-25, 22-25, 16-25, with the fast-paced Korat booking a quarterfinals date against Kazakhstan’s VC Zhetysu for this Satruday, April 26. But even if the odds weren’t in their favor, the 10-time PVL champions offered no excuses as they took full responsibility for the loss.
“We take the losses from this tournament kasi kailangan maghanda, and it was actually a tall order din for us kasi we didn’t get to maximize or prepare too much in this tournament, pero no excuses,” captain Alyssa Valdez said moments after Creamline’s 15-25, 22-25, 16-25 loss to Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday.
It may not have been the exit that they wanted, but Valdez and Creamline know that the AVC tilt has pushed them out of their comfort zone to grow further as one tight-knit unit.
After all, it was here that the Cool Smashers fielded a new set of imports in Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Anastasiya Kudryashova, along with facing off against regional powerhouses including Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday.
“So nacha-challenge din talaga and napu-push ‘yung sistema namin, and doon mo rin makikita kung ano pa ‘yung mga things to improve namin — individually and as a team — so it’s quite a good experience to go out of your comfort zone every once in a while, and that’s why we also train sometimes out of the country to see that,” reflected Valdez.
Prior to Nakhon Ratchasima, Creamline was slotted in Pool A, where they faced off against Jordan’s Al Naser that fielded three Brazilian imports, along with a Zhetysu crew who have used their height and might to assert their status as tournament favorites.
“Iba pag buo din ‘yung sistema ng kalaban, but we really take that. It was a really hard loss for us, pero dun talaga titibay talaga, so sana ‘yun ‘yung panghahawakan namin sa mga next tournaments namin mainly here in the Philippines representing Creamline, or representing the Philippines kung saan man,” the Creamline captain said.
On top of facing high-level competition, regional tournaments also bring an element of surprise, according to Valdez. Gone are the familiarity that teams are afforded in their home leagues, and in comes the challenge of preparing for an entirely new set of opponents and playing styles with a small window of preparation time.
“In terms of dun sa mga ganun na pagbabago, we just have to take it talaga. And doon tayo natututo. ‘Yung gulatan factor na ‘yun, doon talaga lalabas ‘yung skills mo, kung ano na ba ‘yung mga natutunan mo for the past how many years you’ve been playing with the team,” Valdez explained.
“Honestly ang sarap din sa pakiramdam na kahit papaano, may gulat na feeling ka pag ganon, kasi it gives you thrill and excites you more as a player din.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.