Creamline embraces classes after AVC and PVL grind

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Sherwin Meneses all the way through an AVC Champions League recreation. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

MANILA, Philippines —Losing is a part of the educational procedure for the Creamline Cool Smashers, whose Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League marketing campaign ended within the quarterfinals.

The 10-time PVL champion were given swept by way of Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima within the knockout quarterfinals, 15-25, 22-25, 16-25, on Thursday at Philsports Arena.

READ: AVC: Creamline’s semifinals hopes dashed with Nakhon sweep

Creamline trainer Sherwin Meneses remained pleased with his gamers following a grueling six-month PVL All-Filipino Conference, which ended with their five-peat hopes dashed by way of Petro Gazz in Game 3 of the finals simply final week.

“Of course, we’re still happy that we got to play in the AVC again, even if things didn’t go our way. Hopefully, in the next international tournament, we’ll be able to prepare better. But no excuses, we just didn’t make it to the semifinals,” stated Meneses in Filipino. “Still, it was a great experience and it helped us a lot as a team.”

Creamline Cool Smashers within the AVC Champions League. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

Creamline captain and nationwide workforce veteran Alyssa Valdez stated their fresh setbacks, regardless that tricky, will most effective cause them to more potent.

“This tournament was a tall order for us because we didn’t get much time to train and adjust, especially with the new imports. But no excuses,” stated Valdez.

READ: AVC: Galanza, Pons cherish PH stint with Creamline in spite of go out

“It was still a good experience. We did our best to adjust with what we had, and hopefully we’ll be more prepared and more polished. We had nothing to lose, but everything to gain here. And I hope we carry those lessons forward, even after our loss in the PVL. This was a meaningful experience for all of us.”

Valdez, who performed across the world for the primary time in two years, relished the chance to check the highest Asian groups with other techniques.

“It really challenged our own system and pushed us to grow,” Valdez stated. “That’s when you really see what you need to improve, not just as individuals, but as a team. It’s good to step outside your comfort zone sometimes. And when you face a team with a complete, well-oiled system, you take that seriously.”

The Cool Smashers gained their first recreation in opposition to Al Naser Club of Jordan however misplaced two immediately fits to semifinalists Zhetysu, which swept Pool A and eradicated PLDT, and Nakhon Ratchasima within the quarterfinals.

Meneses stated Creamline will now take a genuinely-earned wreck after a protracted season, without a choices but on import alternatives for the approaching Reinforced Conference. However, the workforce nonetheless has its attractions on reuniting with American spiker Erica Staunton.

“Right now, choosing an import isn’t even in our vocabulary yet. Our main focus after AVC is really to give the players some rest. The Reinforced Conference is still a bit far, so there’s time and more options to look into,” the Creamline trainer stated.

“If we get the import we want, especially Erica, and if she’s available by October, that would be great. But we’ll see.”