Team Pilipinas is looking for a breakthrough medal, and Creamline's core will try to help the cause.
The Philippines has not medaled in indoor women’s volleyball at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 17 years. A team led by the core players of the Creamline Cool Smashers will attempt to break that long drought in May.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation recently named the 14-player team that will represent the Philippines in the biennial games’ indoor volleyball tournament, and half of it are Cool Smashers. Leading the way are Alyssa Valdez, who was also named team captain, and newly minted three-time MVP Tots Carlos.
Joining Valdez and Carlos from Creamline are All-Filipino Conference Best Setter Jia De Guzman, Jema Galanza (Best Outside Spiker), Michele Gumabao (Best Opposite Hitter), Ced Domingo, and Kyla Atienza. They are joined by Kath Arado (Best Libero) and Dell Palomata of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, Gel Cayuna and Glaudine Tronsoco of the Cignal HD Spikers, Chery Nunag and Kat Tolentino of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, and Mylene Paat of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
Piloting this crack team of the country’s best volleybelles is the Brazilian Olympian Jorge Souza de Brito. Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses will be one of his assistants, along with Cherry Rose Macatangay. Raffy Mosuela, Grace Gomez, and Ma. Fe Moran are also part of the team as trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and team manager respectively.
The Cool Smashers had previously reiterated their commitment to the national team, with Carlos and company vowing to give their best for the country right after winning the PVL All-Filipino crown against the Petro Gazz Angels in an epic championship series that went the distance.
They will get their chance in May, and they will have the PVL's best to help them.
(With reports from the PVL website)