Creamline may have lost Game 1 of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals, head coach Sherwin Meneses is urging the team to focus on extending the series against Petro Gazz.
The Cool Smashers are seeking to defend their All-Filipino crown and win their second consecutive championship.
Meneses, a two-time PVL champion coach, advised the team to forget about their Game One loss and concentrate on the upcoming match against Petro Gazz.
The coach acknowledged the disappointment of the team but emphasized that dwelling on the loss could hinder their ability to bounce back. He urged the players to move on and not let the sadness consume them.
Meneses said, "Of course, everyone who loses feels a bit sad in the first twenty minutes. But if we carry the sadness until tomorrow, we might not be able to recover, so there's sadness in the team, but we'll overcome it."
The coach also pointed out that Creamline was on the verge of extending the game to the fifth set, with Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza saving three match points to tie the game at 24-all. However, a mid-rally challenge by Angels head coach Oliver Almadro and a subsequent Jia De Guzman net violation led to Creamline's defeat.
Despite the unfortunate turn of events, Meneses refused to believe that the sole play was the reason for the loss. He admitted that the team had lapses and made errors throughout the game that played a significant role in their defeat.
"The breaks of the game are something we can't control, but as I said, we didn't lose because of them. We had a lot of lapses, a lot of errors. Our loss wasn't based on those breaks," explained Meneses.
He added that Creamline has a strong mental fortitude, which he believes will help them bounce back in Game Two and extend the series. Meneses expressed his confidence in the team's mindset and their ability to prepare in a short amount of time.
"Mindset, mind game because it's only a one-day preparation, that's why the minds and hearts of our players are strong. I'm hoping that we can bounce back on Tuesday," Meneses said.
The Creamline Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz Angels will face each other again on Tuesday, with the former determined to extend the series and keep their championship hopes alive.
