Two more wins and Creamline will complete a grand slam in an all-Filipino tournament in the Premier Volleyball League.
Despite playing sans some key players in the season-ending second serving of the All-Filipino Conference, the Cool Smashers have managed to make the necessary adjustments as other holdovers stepped up to fill the void.
Creamline barely felt the absence of main setter Jia Morado-De Guzman and middle blocker Ced Domingo after rolling past all its 13 games on its way to booking a sixth straight all-Filipino finals stint and 10th overall championship appearance.
The Cool Smashers swiftly disposed of Chery Tiggo with an emphatic sweep in the best-of-three semifinals capped by a 26-24, 25-21, 25-21, Game 2 win last Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is not surprised at all as their amazing win streak, despite an incomplete usual starting lineup, is a testament to his players fully embracing their battle-tested system.
“Since I took over Creamline we’ve been using the same system,” Meneses, who aims to deliver the team’s fifth all-Filipino title overall, said.
“Every position they do the same training so at the start of the (All-Filipino) conference I said that it’s okay even if we’ll miss some players because I’m confident that whoever is available will step up.”
Meneses, who took over the coaching reins from Thai mentor Tai Bundit last year, lauded his players’ professionalism and dedication to keep the club’s winning tradition alive.
“I’m lucky I have competitive players in Creamline. I’m thankful they respond well during training and games. Hopefully, we’ll get two more wins so we’ll have a successful end of the year,” the mentor added.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Tots Carlos also believes that it’s Creamline’s system that brings them success even in the face of challenges.
“Honestly, our team’s mindset and the system of coach Sherwin work well for us. He would always say that we have to work under his system and that’s what we’re doing, we try to master that system,” Carlos, who is tipped to win a fourth conference MVP recognition, said.
“Coach Sherwin’s system fits us perfectly. All of us players in the team also share the same mindset of being competitive all the time.”
Just like Meneses, Carlos thinks the departure of De Guzman to play in the Japan V. League Division I and Domingo’s stint in Thailand pushed the team to further improve.
