Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez on Thursday said their recent loss against PLDT in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference made the Cool Smashers grounded.
Last Saturday, the Savi Davison-led squad got the better of the PVL powerhouse and defending champions, 30-28, 25-21, 23-25, 18-25, 16-14, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Cool Smashers somehow fought back but ultimately fell short in the fifth frame.
READ: PVL: Carlos, Valdez shine as Creamline vents frustrations on Galeries
However, Valdez called it a "good loss," as it helped them return to their ways and acknowledge the aspects they need improvement.
"Honestly, I think we’ve been through different losses na rin naman throughout conferences. But that was actually something na masasabi namin na at the end of the day, wake-up call talaga," said the Creamline stalwart.
READ: PVL: PLDT denies Creamline's reverse sweep bid to halt Cool Smashers' 9-game win streak
"But we were humbled by that loss at the end of the day so we worked hard next day and made sure na gagawin namin ‘yung trabaho namin and roles namin. So with that loss siguro, we would say na we have so much things, so many things to improve on pa as a team," she went on.
"It was a good loss for us, if that makes sense."
As the Cool Smashers clinched top seed, they will be facing the 12th-ranked team in the qualifying round.
But they will take it one day at a time, Valdez stressed, as the Cool Smashers continue their title-retention bid.
"We’ll take it one game at a time. Definitely, I think one of the skills na na-improve ng halos lahat would be the system and the blocking, eh. I guess we’re gonna work on our counter attacks pa rin and basics, disiplina most definitely sa sistema namin," said Valdez.
"So may mga sistema kami na kailangan pa rin naming ma-perfect. Basics, kapag free ball, ‘pag mahihinang bola, at the end of the day kailangan namin siyang kahit papaano ma-perfect din," she also said.
"Yun ‘yung mga minor details that will helps us in the end of the game and ‘yun ‘yung magma-matter lalo na kapag dikitan. So we’ll work on counter attacks and basic balls."
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