After a losing start to their title defense, the Creamline Cool Smashers bounced back against their All-Filipino finals tormentors, the Petro Gazz Angels, and barged into the win column of the PVL Reinforced Conference.
Creamline turned to the trio of Courtney Schwan, Alyssa Valdez, and Tots Carlos to beat Petro Gazz, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-20, and tie the Angels in Pool B at 1-1 after opening with a five-set loss to Akari on Saturday night. Valdez was also pleased with how the Cool Smashers got back at their rivals, who dethroned them in the All-Filipino Conference last May in Game 3 of the Finals.
‘Coach Sherwin told us to move forward. We have to think of this game. Just this game today. And, yeah. It’s always been a good energy coming into rivalry game, in a way. And, it brings so much memories and so much motivation whenever we play against Petro Gazz,’ said Valdez, who had 14 points, 14 digs, and 13 excellent receptions.
‘That’s why I think there are instances that we just wanna give our all, fight. Because, we wanna give them a good fight as well and it’s always classic games with Petro Gazz.’
The three-time conference MVP was also energized by the good Tuesday crowd enjoying their duel with Brooke Van Sickle and Lindsey Vander Weide.
‘It’s just so nice to see that everyone’s actually enjoying the game. And we actually enjoy the game. I think one thing I can attest whenever we play against Petro Gazz, we actually always do enjoy the game because we give our best. And we actually just bring out the best in each of it,’ Valdez said.
Last year, Creamline also split its first two games in the Reinforced. Valdez believes it’s a ‘testament that they keep working harder’ after every game, regardless of the result.
‘We never back down in any situation. And we just want to keep fighting. And we, it’s just so much, there’s so much joy in today’s game. I think that’s one thing that’s very evident and obvious in today’s game. And we just actually wanted to keep fighting after that loss also,’ Valdez said.
Valdez and the Cool Smashers, who are defending their crown without their star hitter Jema Galanza, fly to Ilagan City for Saturday’s game against Galeries Tower.