Powerhouse Creamline has completed another amazing perfect title conquest.
Still, it was local volleyball that came out as the biggest winner in the recently-concluded Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
A record-setting crowd of 24,459 filled the Smart Araneta Coliseum to witness the Cool Smashers slug it out against sister team Choco Mucho in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals last Saturday.
It was a surreal moment as the sport which only started to gain traction from the public beyond its niche market less than two decades ago proved that it could rival if not surpass the popularity of basketball.
“We’re so happy to be part of this historic (moment). It just shows how big the growth of local volleyball is,” Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said following his club’s 22-25, 25-20, 29-27, 24-26, 15-12 victory to capture its seventh league title overall.
“The players really work hard and give their all every game to give fans great games to watch each time. Hopefully, (volleyball popularity) would grow even more.”
The massive crowd which included tennis star Alex Eala and celebrities like Vice Ganda, Willie Revillame and Cristine Reyes, among others shattered the previous PVL record of 19,157 set last year at the Mall of Asia Arena during the Creamline-Choco Mucho match.
“I was really surprised that the popularity of volleyball in the Philippines is now at this level. I’m shocked with how women’s volleyball in our country has grown. Hopefully, the support for volleyball would continue to grow,” Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin said.
The Game 2 turnout between the sister clubs, which have the biggest fan bases, also shattered the previous Philippine volleyball record of 22,848 set in 2016 in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines finals between eventual champion De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University at the Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s bigger than Ateneo-La Salle, right?” Flying Titans middle blocker Maddie Madayag said.
Madayag was an Ateneo sophomore watching from the sidelines due to a knee injury when the previous high was set.
“I just hope that we can help volleyball even more through concrete programs of coaches. Focus should also be given at the grassroots level to raise the level of competition,” she added.
Creamline star and face of Philippine volleyball has played in all three record-breaking crowds both as a student-athlete for Ateneo and a professional.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect that the support for Philippine volleyball will grow even more. And with that, we say, Merry Christmas to everyone and hopefully we’ll be able to make more historic moments,” Valdez said.
“Hopefully, with the growing crowd support, the sport of volleyball in the Philippines would also develop and grow.”
