Sheena Toring stood silently at the edge of the media zone, collecting her thoughts and emotions before stepping into the spotlight.
It wasn’t just another post-draft interview—it was a moment that carried the weight of her journey and the promise of what lies ahead.
Moments earlier, her name had been called as the 12th overall pick in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft.
The team that picked her? None other than the league’s most decorated franchise—the Creamline Cool Smashers.
The announcement, made at Novotel Manila Araneta City, sent a wave of emotion through the former National University middle blocker. Now, she finds herself reunited with a familiar figure: Coach Sherwin Meneses, who steered both NU and Creamline to prominence and now brings Toring into a fold already brimming with championship pedigree.
For most rookies, getting drafted by a 10-time PVL champion would be as daunting as it is thrilling. But for Toring, a proven winner herself, the pressure is nothing new.
A proud product of the NU Nazareth School pipeline, Toring’s resume is stacked with silverware—five titles in the high school division and three more as a cornerstone of the NU Lady Bulldogs. Her consistent excellence and calm, composed presence on the court earned her the reputation as one of the most reliable middle blockers of her generation.
Now, she's tasked with translating that same winning mentality into Creamline’s already stacked roster.
“I think again, big expectation talaga na 'pag champion team Creamline. So ako, kung ano 'yung i-improve ko pa, I hope kung ano 'yung kulang sa Creamline, ita-try kong i-fill up po. 'Yun po,” Toring said, reflecting on the challenge ahead.
At 6-feet tall and armed with elite blocking instincts, Toring offers Creamline a fresh but familiar weapon at the net. And thanks to her deep connection with Meneses, the transition into the pro ranks might come easier than most.
When Meneses rejoined the NU program ahead of UAAP Season 87, he helped establish synergy between the Lady Bulldogs and the Cool Smashers—often bringing both teams together for joint training sessions and tune-up games. That setup not only allowed Toring to observe Creamline’s pace and culture up close, but also develop an early chemistry with future teammates.
“I'm really happy na nasa Creamline ako kasi knowing Coach Sherwin nga, alam ko 'yung sistema niya. So big advantage 'yon para sa akin,” she said with a grateful smile.
“Wala na 'ko masyadong changes po. So excited din po ako makipag-training sa mga professional players — sina ate Alyssa (Valdez), sila ate Michele (Gumabao).”
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