By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
As expected, the title win did not come easy for the Creamline Cool Smashers as they became the first team to complete a rare Grand Slam feat in the Premier Volleyball League.
As in the past, they credited their championship wins to experience. After all, they have accumulated 10 titles including the recent Invitational Conference against a tough Cignal crew.
But experience could only take you so far as far as veteran spiker Michele Gumabao was concerned.
“Yung experience, it will help you calm your nerves. Pero yung sa game kanina, and with the whole conference, hindi lang siya test of skills. It’s also a test of conditioning, physical, emotional… lahat na,” said Gumabao, who was later adjudged the Conference Most Valuable Player.
Indeed, it tested not only their mental resolve, but also their physical conditioning. The conference only lasted for one week, and came merely days after the Reinforced Conference, which the Cool Smashers won at the expense of the Akari Chargers.
“Games won’t be easy, especially in the finals. But this conference, pinakamahirap siya in a way na first time kaming naka-experience na tuluy-tuloy yung game,” admitted Gumabao.
Against the HD Spikers, their experience and mental fortitude were put to test anew, and again, they emerged victorious via pulsating 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13 win.
But more than those, it was the character and camaraderie that brought them to the pinnacle of success.
“Naabot namin to dahil sa tiwala namin sa isa’t isa, at sa tiwala namin sa mga coaches namin. ahit na may mga nawala sa team namin, nagawan namin ng paraan kasi kaming mga natira, alam namin yung bawat role namin pagdating sa loob ng court,” said setter Kyle Negrito, who claimed the Finals MVP plum.
Winning the championship may be becoming all too familiar for the Cool Smashers, but that did not stop them from achieving more.
“Every championship, may mga natutunan kami. This conference, natutunan namin na maging ready palagi. Magtulungan, ibigay yung 100 percent sa court,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Hopefully dumami pa yung panalo namin, at mas matutunan pa naming lalong magtulungan sa court,” he added.
