Creamline Cool Smashers’ Sherwin Meneses throughout an AVC Champions League recreation. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
MANILA, Philippines —Dropping is a part of the educational course of for the Creamline Cool Smashers, whose Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Champions League marketing campaign ended within the quarterfinals.
The ten-time PVL champion obtained swept by Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima within the knockout quarterfinals, 15-25, 22-25, 16-25, on Thursday at Philsports Enviornment.
READ: AVC: Creamline’s semifinals hopes dashed with Nakhon sweep
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses remained pleased with his gamers following a grueling six-month PVL All-Filipino Convention, which ended with their five-peat hopes dashed by Petro Gazz in Recreation 3 of the finals simply final week.
“After all, we’re nonetheless pleased that we obtained to play within the AVC once more, even when issues didn’t go our method. Hopefully, within the subsequent worldwide event, we’ll be capable to put together higher. However no excuses, we simply didn’t make it to the semifinals,” mentioned Meneses in Filipino. “Nonetheless, it was an awesome expertise and it helped us so much as a workforce.”
Creamline Cool Smashers within the AVC Champions League. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
Creamline captain and nationwide workforce veteran Alyssa Valdez mentioned their latest setbacks, although powerful, will solely make them stronger.
“This event was a tall order for us as a result of we didn’t get a lot time to coach and alter, particularly with the brand new imports. However no excuses,” mentioned Valdez.
READ: AVC: Galanza, Pons cherish PH stint with Creamline regardless of exit
“It was nonetheless a superb expertise. We did our greatest to regulate with what we had, and hopefully we’ll be extra ready and extra polished. We had nothing to lose, however the whole lot to realize right here. And I hope we stock these classes ahead, even after our loss within the PVL. This was a significant expertise for all of us.”
Valdez, who performed internationally for the primary time in two years, relished the chance to check the highest Asian groups with totally different programs.
“It actually challenged our personal system and pushed us to develop,” Valdez mentioned. “That’s whenever you actually see what it’s worthwhile to enhance, not simply as people, however as a workforce. It’s good to step outdoors your consolation zone typically. And whenever you face a workforce with an entire, well-oiled system, you’re taking that significantly.”
The Cool Smashers received their first recreation in opposition to Al Naser Membership of Jordan however misplaced two straight matches to semifinalists Zhetysu, which swept Pool A and eradicated PLDT, and Nakhon Ratchasima within the quarterfinals.
Meneses mentioned Creamline will now take a well-deserved break after a protracted season, with no choices but on import selections for the upcoming Strengthened Convention. Nevertheless, the workforce nonetheless has its sights on reuniting with American spiker Erica Staunton.
“Proper now, selecting an import isn’t even in our vocabulary but. Our major focus after AVC is actually to present the gamers some relaxation. The Strengthened Convention continues to be a bit far, so there’s time and extra choices to look into,” the Creamline coach mentioned.
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“If we get the import we wish, particularly Erica, and if she’s out there by October, that might be nice. However we’ll see.”
