Creamline opens AVC Champions League bid in smashing fashion

April 21 ------ CREAMLINE made a strong first impression for the Philippines with a 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 win over Jordan's Al Naser Club in Pool A of the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League at the Philsports Arena. The Cool Smashers had their own resurrection from a crushing PVL Finals heartbreak just over a week ago at the same Pasig City venue with a rousing start in their return to international play. 

A proven veteran in the continental stage, team captain Alyssa Valdez made sure to buck an error-plagued start with six of her 10 points in the opening frame upon embarking on her first tour of duty for the flag since the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia in 2023. The Cool Smashers then overcame two Al Naser set points through a kill block from six-time PVL best middle blocker Pangs Panaga. 

Then came a strong show of force from Creamline’s trio of foreign guest imports — one that proved too much to stop for the reigning Jordan Volleyball Premier League champions. "Importante yung game ngayon kasi I think makaka-ensayo pa kami ng ilang days para yung adjustment about sa three imports especially dun sa two imports na bago namin. I think 1 to 2 days magiging maganda pa yung performance namin," said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses. 

Kazakh blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets (eight points), Russian spiker Anastasiya Kudryashova (nine points) and resident American import Erica Staunton (17 points) connived for 13 of the team’s 25 markers to shrug off the cobwebs come Set 2. "I'm just really excited to be able to play with them again. I've been here for a couple of weeks, so obviously I was watching their games in the finals and I was just itching to be able to be on the court with them," said Staunton. "Like what Alyssa [Valdez] said, I'm just really excited to be here playing with Creamline but also representing the Philippines. I think that's really special. Overall, it's very surreal and I'm really happy to be back." 

The win also gives Creamline inside track on one of two quarterfinals spots ahead of its pool play finale in less than a day's time against Kazakhstan's reigning champion Zhetysu. 

Source: spin.ph