Creamline is banking on its Thailand training camp and the arrival of American import Courtney Schwan to fuel a redemption run in the Reinforced Conference, after back-to-back bronze finishes in the PVL.
After back-to-back bronze finishes, the Creamline Cool Smashers are setting their sights higher in the upcoming 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
And this time, with a fresh training camp and a new import, the 10-time PVL champs are determined to climb back to the top.
Team captain Alyssa Valdez said the Cool Smashers put in valuable work during their training camp in Bangkok, Thailand, which gave them a much-needed boost in preparation.
"We've been working hard preparing for this conference. We had a training camp in Thailand, we just got back. So, we're really looking forward to have a better conference," Valdez shared. "But, yeah, one game at a time. Hopefully, we can play better, and with more reinforcement, our chemistry will continue to improve."
Valdez also praised new import Courtney Schwan, describing her as a vocal leader whose straightforward personality has already helped the team’s adjustment.
“Coco is such a good addition to our team. More than the experience she’s bringing, she’s very vocal and very straightforward. We’re able to adjust easier because of that. And with a deeper rotation, we get more contributions from the whole team,” Valdez added.
Bonding and bigger goals
For veteran Michele Gumabao, the Thailand camp wasn’t just about skills but also about building stronger team connections.
“Masaya kasi, siyempre bonding din every time we go abroad as a team. And to have a reinforcement with us, Coco has brought a lot of new things. Ang dami rin namin natututunan sa kanya because she’s very experienced. At the same time, natuto rin kami sa mga local teams na nakalaban namin in Thailand,” Gumabao said.
Courtney Schwan is introduced as Creamline's import during the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference press conference. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Looking ahead, Gumabao stressed that while the ultimate goal is to win another championship, the Cool Smashers are also prioritizing health.
This comes amid an injury-riddled past few conferences for Creamline, with stars Tots Carlos, Bea de Leon, and Denden Lazaro-Revilla nursing injuries.
[ALSO READ: Creamline confirms Jia De Guzman will sit out PVL Reinforced Conference title defense]
“Every conference, Creamline is super determined, management, coaches, and players, to win again. But the bigger goal is always to be safe and injury-free,” she said.
“Hopefully, all our players can come back fully. Pero, yeah, championship talaga. Definitely, lalaban kami hanggang sa dulo.”
Creamline, which won the previous Reinforced Conference with Bernadeth Pons and Erica Staunton, aim to reach the top of the podium once again after bronze medal finishes in the PVL on Tour and the Invitational Conference.
—
Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.