Creamline is in for a tough challenge defending its crown in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference set to begin on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The race to the throne of the mid-season tournament featuring a record 11 local clubs with two foreign teams coming in the semifinals will be a sprint to the top as hostilities run in a tight one-month schedule.
Each match is virtually a must-win so the Cool Smashers will need to quickly adjust to the game and to the level of competition to better their chance of retaining their title.
“I think one thing that will make the difference this conference is whoever’s system will work right away and the team that is healthy all throughout,” Creamline skipper Alyssa Valdez said.
Valdez is making her return for the pink-clad spikers after almost seven months of absence due to a right knee injury she suffered in the PVL Reinforced Conference battle for third last December.
The Cool Smashers will also have to contend with a talent-loaded field following the recruitment spree of clubs to beef up their respective rosters during the offseason.
Creamline is in Pool A joined by one of the top title contenders in Chery Tiggo along with the very dangerous PLDT, a stronger Akari side and newcomer Gerflor.
“It’s a really fast conference this Invitationals, and everyone is on equal footing because of the quality of players and support of teams. Everything is already there. The level of competition will definitely be higher,” Valdez, who skipped the successful title repeat of the Cool Smashers in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference, acknowledged.
Despite bracing for a rough road to a back-to-back, Creamline remains the favorite to win it all.
Seven players including Valdez got to play internationally as part of the national team that participated in last month’s 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
The Cool Smashers also signed a reliable open spiker in Bernadeth Pons, who is not only an additional weapon on offense but also an important asset in floor defense.
Pons’ presence makes the star-studded squad that boasts of reigning conference Most Valuable Player Tots Carlos, last edition’s Finals MVP Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, prized setter Jia Morado-De Guzman and libero Kyla Atienza, whom all played in the biennial meet held in Phnom Penh, even more dangerous.
With minimal changes in their lineup and the arrival of former mentor Tai Bundit to help in training, Creamline is looking sharp as ever.
“Honestly, we didn’t have a break in volleyball because while we were in Cambodia they’ve been training here (in Manila) with coach Tai (Bundit),” Valdez said.
“This is the longest we’ve trained, one and a half months together. It’s kind of different knowing that even if it’s just Pons that was added to the team, the system has to be in play and we have to be reminded (of our system) also. Because seven (players) in our team played in the SEA Games so we need to be refreshed on coach Sherwin’s (Meneses) system.”
The Cool Smashers square off with the Crossovers on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to open their campaign.
