-5164.jpg)
2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference Finals MVP Kyle Negrito. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference Finals MVP Kyle Negrito asserted that she wasn't alone in steering Creamline to the first-ever Grand Slam in league history.
The two-time PVL Best Setter credited Coach Sherwin Meneses as he was there to guide her during rallies, especially in the nail-biting Set 5 during their championship showdown against Cignal on Thursday night.
READ: Creamline makes history, clinches first-ever PVL Grand Slam
"Unang-una, 'yung tulungan namin ni bossing idol Coach Sherwin, every rally talaga, andun siya para mag-guide sa akin," said Negrito, who orchestrated the Cool Smashers' offense with 25 excellent sets.
The Cool Smashers had shown their championship poise in Sets 4 and 5 to break the hearts of the HD Spikers, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13, and win the Invitational Conference championship -- their third title this season.
The former Far Eastern University standout said all she had to do was do her role as she gave praises to her teammates.
"'Yung mga teammates ko, 'di naman din nila pinapahirap 'yung trabaho ko. Mararamdaman mo talaga't maririnig mo sila na lahat sila gusto nilang humingi ng bola, lahat sila gustong pumatay ng bola," she said.
READ: PVL: Creamline's Gumabao is Invitational Conference MVP
"Me as a setter, trabaho ko na lang 'yung gagawin ko, na bibigay ko 'yung pinakamaganda kong kayang ibigay ta's sila na bahala."
They just held on to that Creamline bond and system, Negrito said, despite lacking the services of star players Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez.
Alas Pilipinas' Jema Galanza returned for the "still confident" Creamline in time for the final round.
"Siyempre buong-buo pa rin 'yung kumpiyansa kasi tulad nga ng palagi ko ring sinasabi, advantage namin this conference ay kahit na may mga nawala, kami, Creamline, matagal na kaming magkakasama," the 27-year-old playmaker said.
"So walang problema kahit sinong nasa loob. Alam ng bawat isa sa amin 'yung role nila, and gagawin namin 'yung role namin and 'yung respeto din talaga namin sa isa't isa at sa mga sacrifice and paghihirap ng bawat isa, siguro 'yun lang din talaga 'yung pinaghawakan namin this season," she added.
"And happy kami na 'di naman kulang, sabi nga ni bossing [coach Sherwin], pito lang naman naglalaro sa loob ng court. Sobra-sobra pa nga."
Negrito has emerged as Creamline's first-choice setter after longtime playmaker Jia de Guzman joined the Denso Airybees in Japan's SV.League as an import.
RELATED VIDEO: