Creamline turns their bronze medal finishes into motivation for a bigger comeback.
For the first time since the Premier Volleyball League’s initial conferences, the Creamline Cool Smashers find themselves as back-to-back bronze medalists.
Following their PVL on Tour bronze against the Cignal HD Spikers, Creamline once again finished second-runner up after sweeping the Chery Tiggo Crossovers 25-15, 25-13, 25-22 in the PVL Invitational Conference last Sunday, August 31, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Cool Smashers secured their 19th-straight podium finish after Sunday’s victory. But again, it’s a rare slump for the 10-time PVL champions, who have now gone three-straight conferences without a championship.
For co-captain Michele Gumabao, this stretch only provides an added motivation to work harder, especially with the Reinforced Conference set to tip off this October.
“Sakin siguro ang dami pa naming pwede gawin, ang dami pa naming i-adjust sa sarili namin, sa team. So hindi talaga nagtatapos ‘yung trabaho namin dito kahit na 19 na ‘yung podium and ang laki pa rin talaga ng improvement ng team namin, especially na nadagdagan na kami ng bago,” Gumabao said.
Creamline finished with a 3-2 record in Pool A of the PVL on Tour, before being knocked out of title contention by the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the semifinals. During the one-week Invitationals, they would settle for a 2-3 record in eliminations, with losses to Chery Tiggo and Kobe Shinwa relegating them to the bronze medal match once again.
Gumabao admits that the Cool Smashers could have done better during this stretch, given the fact that they should be one of, if not the PVL’s most experienced teams at this point.
“Kahit naman kami sa sarili namin, alam namin na ang dami naming games this season na alam namin kaya namin, na napapakawalan namin. Ang dami naming moments na dapat alam namin mature kami, pero kami pa ‘yung nagkakamali. So kulang pa talaga, and sabi ko nga kanina, ang damin pa naming pwede gawin pa,” Gumabao lamented.
“So it doesn’t mean na nakapagchampion na kami dati, Grand Slam na dati, ‘yun na ‘yon.”
But as a silver lining, Creamline does have a lot to look forward to, whether it’s the uphill climb back to the championship rounds, or their refreshed roster that includes new pieces such as Sheena Toring, Mich Gamit, and veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete.
“Andyan si Lorie, andyan si Ate Rhea, parang feel ko nga batang team kami ngayon eh! Lots to work hard and look forward to, kasi alam namin na as gumagaling ‘yung ibang teams, kami kaya din namin mag-improve pa sa nakita ng lahat before,” Gumabao said.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.