Creamline's Ced Domingo took the spotlight during Tuesday's game against the PLDT High Speed Hitters, after her remarkable performance led the Cool Smashers to victory and clinched their first semifinals seat in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Domingo finished the game with 17 points, delivering 15 attacks on 18 attempts. She hopes that her impressive performance can relieve some pressure on their outside spikers as they head into the playoffs.
"I guess one thing is not only the middles, but the efficiency of our outside and opposite spikers will also improve because our middle is efficient. So, as you said, it's an advantage for us that all our spikers will be guarded by other teams," said Domingo.
The Cool Smashers' Tots Carlos also had a game-high 18 points on a 50-percent attacking clip along with 14 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs. Jema Galanza tallied 11 markers along with 11 receptions and seven digs.
Domingo, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker and a product of Far Eastern University, said that their early entry to the semifinals is a testament to their hard work during practice. She believes that the team will continue to work hard as they strive to bounce back from their bronze finish in the previous conference.
"I'm happy because our training is paying off and I believe we are still peaking. When we reach the semifinals, we will work even harder," said the reigning Invitational Conference Finals MVP.
Despite their recent success, Domingo and her team are not complacent. They understand the challenges that lie ahead and the competition they face in the upcoming games.
"As coach said, there is actually no advantage just by making it to the semifinals because all teams are strong now. You cannot be sure that you will win, or that you can beat them in any sets. So I guess every game is really important for us," added Domingo.
Creamline's head coach, Sherwin Meneses, echoed Domingo's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of taking one game at a time and continuously improving as a team.
"We need to focus on our preparation and on what we can control. We need to continue to improve every game and to play our best volleyball come the semifinals," he said.
With the team's early entry to the semifinals, the Cool Smashers are looking forward to showcasing their skills and proving their worth as they aim to clinch the championship title.
