In the heart of Philippine volleyball, the Creamline Cool Smashers are on the cusp of embarking on an unprecedented journey.
The reigning champions are preparing for the Premier Volleyball League's Second All-Filipino Conference, a tournament with a significant twist – they will be entering without their star playmaker Jia De Guzman.
This is a challenge they haven't faced in six years, as De Guzman recently signed with Denso of V.League Division 1 immediately after the Invitational Conference.
The absence of a key player might raise concerns for some teams, but not for the Cool Smashers. They are placing their trust in the capable hands of backup setter Kyle Negrito, who is ready to step into the starting role.
Creamline's head coach, Sherwin Meneses, has faith in Negrito's abilities. "Of course, our preparation isn't as fast, but we're trying to fill Jia De Guzman's role, especially with Kyle Negrito, an experienced setter," said Meneses. "So I don't think we'll have too many problems."
Team captain Alyssa Valdez, a three-time PVL MVP, shares this sentiment.
She believes that Negrito's five years of experience as De Guzman's backup will be invaluable as they aim to defend their hard-earned title.
"We miss Jia both on and off the court, especially her leadership, but we've always trained with Kyle during practices for a long time," Valdez pointed out. "She has been a part of the Creamline Cool Smashers for a while, representing our country as well. She's been mentored by Jia, who was her teammate, so there's a lot of learning and sharing between them."
Meneses also stressed that the extended preparation before the Second All-Filipino Conference has allowed Creamline to adapt to their new lineup.
"Our preparation for this upcoming conference is good. It's longer than the previous one, which was a bit short. This conference has a longer season," said the PVL champion coach.
Valdez, who knows what it's like to embark on a new career journey, expressed her happiness for De Guzman as she embarks on a new chapter in her volleyball career.
"We're very happy. I think Jia showed everyone that she deserves that spot. She's one of the best setters we have in the Philippines," said Valdez, one of the first Filipino volleyball players to play overseas.
"We're very happy and we look forward to her loving the sport even more because of this opportunity. We hope to play against Jia soon. We're very excited to watch her live in Japan. If Jia is happy, our joy will be even greater."
As the Cool Smashers brace themselves for a conference filled with new challenges, one thing is clear: they are a team that welcomes change and celebrates the growth of their players, both on and off the court.
With Negrito ready to take the lead, they look forward to defending their title and continuing their journey as one of the premier volleyball teams in the country.
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