Creamline overcame a slow start and growing pains with its new imports to carve out a 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Al Naser of Jordan, marking a victorious start to its 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League campaign on Sunday, April 20, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Shaking off the sting of their recent loss in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Finals, the Cool Smashers rallied behind veterans Alyssa Valdez and Erica Staunton to seize early control of Pool A.

Valdez, Staunton Steady the Ship

Valdez, named Best Player of the Game, finished with 10 points, including seven attacks, providing leadership and poise when Creamline needed it most. Staunton, returning from last season’s Grand Slam run, delivered in crunch time with four of the team’s last five points in the third set.

“Even if they’re young, we had to give it our all. They train hard, too, and they’ll find ways to score,” Valdez said of the Jordanian squad.

New Imports Begin to Gel

Coach Sherwin Meneses deployed a rotating setter tandem of Rhea Villarete and Kyle Negrito to find the right mix, as the team integrated Kazakh middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Russian hitter Anastasya Kudryashova into the fold alongside Staunton.

“Playing with three imports is new for us,” added Valdez. “Communication is key, and we’re working on it. Our system is different, so integrating them into our style takes time.”

Meneses acknowledged the adjustment phase, noting, “One to two more days and I think our performance will really improve.”

Critical First Set Win Sparks Momentum

The Cool Smashers edged Al Naser in a tense opening set that extended to 29-27. Key plays from Jema Galanza and Pangs Panaga helped seal the win, calming Creamline’s nerves.

With momentum on their side, the Cool Smashers pulled away in the second behind Yeliz Kudryashova’s attacks and a Panaga ace for a 2-0 lead.

Staunton Seals the Deal

In the third set, Creamline briefly wavered as Al Naser closed the gap to 16-14. But after errors from the Jordanian side, Staunton stepped up with crosscourt kills and off-the-block winners to end the 82-minute match in style.

Lorie Bernardo also chipped in a timely kill block, helping secure Creamline’s dominance.

Tournament Outlook

The victory placed Creamline atop Pool A, alongside fellow opening-day winners Kaohsiung Taipower (Pool B) and Beijing Baic Motor (Pool C) in the 12-team, four-group tournament featuring squads from 10 countries.

The eight-day championship is organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport, along with local sponsors PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.