Cool Smashers rise from the ashes of a failed PVL AFC title bid and get off to rip-roaring AVC start

–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Creamline could still be smarting from a big letdown after seeing its championship quest lay in ruins in the previous PVL conference.

But if they remain in great pain over that title setback just a week back, the Cool Smashers certainly didn’t show it.

Strengthened by three foreign reinforcements, the Cool Smashers seemed to have forgotten totally about their All-Filipino title series loss after dismantling Jordan’s Al Naser, 29-27, 25-20, 25-19, in the opener of the AVC Women’s Champions League at Philsports Arena on Sunday.

All they want for now is to quickly get over the hump of the elimination phase, put their retooled lineup to acid tests and chase down another title. An international one at that.

“It’s something new [with three imports]. We never had this experience then, so in terms of communication, this is one of the things that we’re really trying to work on,” said Alyssa Valdez after taking the initiative of reversing an unfavorable trend for Creamline in the first set.

American Erica Staunton, who led the Cool Smashers to the 2024 reinforced conference title, returned to strengthen the core made extra formidable by Russian outside hitter Anastasya Kudryashova and middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets from Kazakhstan.

“We have a different system, so we have to integrate them into the team,” said Valdez after helping the Cool Smashers come from behind in the opening frame.

Fumbling with their floor defense early on, the Cool Smashers let the Jordanians secure the advantage with Pully Klein unloading a barrage of attacks.

But gradually, the Cool Smashers began to warm up as Staunton and Valdez uncorked timely hits that kept the visitors on their toes.

Staying patient

Kyle Negrito’s ace finally put the Filipinos on top, 20-19, before both teams went into a ferocious exchange ended by back-to-back kills by spark plug Jema Galanza off the bench.

Natiele Goncalves soared for a swing at the right pin, but Pangs Panaga was there to turn the Brazilian import back at set point.

“We have to respect the game no matter what, even though they’re (Al Naser) a young team compared to us,” added Valdez. “We were patient today in terms of the things that we’re working on since we have three imports.”

There was no trace of the bummer last week against the Petro Gazz Angels that denied the Cool Smashers a fifth consecutive conference championship and a fourth straight all-Filipino title.

Al Naser, backstopped by Brazilian imports in Isabela Paquiardi, Goncalves and Klein, needs to survive the fearsome Zhetysu VC from Kazakhstan on Tuesday to avoid an early exit in their three-team group, where the top two finishers progress to the next phase.

Seeking to advance to the quarterfinal with a pristine record, the Cool Smashers will tackle their biggest challenge yet in the 12-team tournament on Monday against the same Kazakh squad, a nine-time Women’s Volleyball League champion.

And the Cool Smashers certainly got the kind of game they needed to break in their imports and brace for the tougher grind.

“Definitely they’re very nice, very kind, all out, all heart for the team, so it works well for us,” said Valdez of their imports. INQ