There he was, surrounded by his players amid a victorious atmosphere that enveloped the room, a radiant smile gracing his face as he spoke to the press, the echo of success reverberating in his words.
“Sa lahat ng interview ko masaya, ngayon sobrang saya, kasi syempre, natapos namin yung conference na champion at walang injuries. So napakasaya namin lalo na magki-Christmas at makakapagpahinga na,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, moments after steering the peerless Cool Smashers to an epic 22-25, 25-20, 29-27, 24-26, 15-12 victory over Choco Mucho in Game Two of the All-Filipino Conference finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night that completed another sweep (15 games) of a Premier Volleyball League championship.
Meneses, a master of motivation, also expressed gratitude for the support of the Rebisco family that believed in their potential and credited his team’s depth and resilience for their success, emphasizing the burning desire to win that ringed through every training session.
Meneses also spoke of the challenges they had faced, particularly in the nerve-wracking fifth set that had them trailing by three.
“Five sets, kasi anybody’s game na yan eh. Totoo, may buwenas din kami kasi ganun yung nangyari. Wala namang nakakaalam kung ano yung mangyayari sa game lalo na sa Set 5,” said Meneses.
Still, within that unpredictability and uncertainty, he found solace in the unwavering composure of his players. On the brink, the Cool Smashers’ collective calmness prevailed, turning the tide completely in their favor.
Finals MVP Tots Carlos also emphasized the mental fortitude required for success. The departure of two starters didn’t hinder the team, she said, it was their collective mindset, determination and adaptability that prevailed.
“Lagi naman kaming nire-remind din na ito yung meron kami so ito yung papaganahin namin, ito yung tatrabahuhin namin and yun, masaya kami na yun nga na panalo kami and hindi rin kasi namin iniisip yun talaga kasi nga yung mindset namin is kung anong meron kami this season yun yung papaganahin naming,” said Carlos, who fired 16 points in Game One and exploded for 26 in the next.
“Sobrang saya namin kasi ayun nga ang dami naming pinagdaanan. Sabi ko nga kanina, muhkang madali pero yung every training, every game, pag mindset namin syempre iba eh so sobrang saya namin na nanalo kami this (conference), na-sweep namin and sobrang galing lang talaga ni coach Sherwin,” said the former UP standout, who also drew support from Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, Pangs Panaga, Bernadette Pons, Risa Sato, Michele Gumabao, Lorie Bernardo, Kyla Atienza, Ella de Jesus and Mafe Galanza.
“Di naman mahirap, di naman sobrang hirap kasi yung cooperation ng buong team andyan. Nag-step up si Kyle (Negrito) sa pwesto, si (Bernadette) Pons andyan, so yung lineup wala namang problema samin talaga, it’s more on dun sa mindset ng team kaya kami nananalo at kaya namin tinatrabaho lahat kasi kahit sino pa ang maglaro, kahit sino pa yung lagay mo sa loob, gusto talaga namin manalo,” added Carlos.
The championship, its second All-Filipino crown, was Creamline’s seventh since it joined the country’s premier women’s volley league organized by Sports Vision in 2017.
It matched the team’s Open Conference successful title-retention drive in 2019 where the Cool Smashers won all their 20 games.
Creamline also scored a perfect campaign in last year’s Open Conference.
But the latest feat marked not just another championship for Creamline but a triumph for Philippine volleyball with Meneses and Carlos acknowledging the historic significance of the moment.
“Syempre, sobrang saya namin at nakasama kami sa history na yan. Yung volleyball sa Pilipinas lumalaki na. Talagang pinagpapaguran din ng players talaga para maganda yung mapanood nila sa every game na mapapanood nila,” said Meneses.
