At venue of PVL title loss, Creamline mends wounds with AVC kickoff sweep of Al Naser

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Creamline resident import Erica Staunton and ageless ace Alyssa Valdez work wonders in an AVC Champions League opening match sweep of Al Naser-Jordan just 8 days after dropping the PVL All-Filipino title

MANILA, Philippines – Last April 12, the Creamline Cool Smashers watched in muted disappointment as confetti scattered around the PhilSports Arena to signal the end of their four-peat PVL All-Filipino title reign and the start of a breakthrough rule for the Petro Gazz Angels.

Just eight days later on Sunday, April 20, Creamline rolled back in the Pasig City venue like nothing happened, as it kicked off its 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Champions League campaign with a rousing 29-27, 25-20, 25-19 sweep over Al Naser-Jordan.

Import Erica Staunton returned after a golden 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference run and picked up right where she left off with a team-high 17 points on 13 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block, while the ageless Alyssa Valdez backstopped with 11 points — 6 in the crucial first-set escape — on 7 spikes, 2 aces, and a block.

“I think we learned to respect the game. Even though [Al Naser is] younger than us, we have to give our all because they also train volleyball all the time, so whatever happens, they will rise up and get their points,” Valdez said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“We had to be patient today in terms of all the things we’re working on also, especially since we have three imports coming in in our team. It’s a good, good fight and we’re very grateful we got the win.”

Creamline’s much-awaited “AK” import duo of Anastasiya Kudryashova and Anastassiya Kolomoyets did not disappoint despite limited practice time with the Cool Smashers, scoring 9 and 8 points, respectively, in their debut with the bright pink threads.

“It’s something new with them. We’ve had this experience too. But we’ve had communication. I think that’s one of the things we’re really trying to work on, just because we have a different system and we have to integrate them in the team,” Valdez continued.

“Definitely, they’re very nice, very kind, and all out, all heart also for the team, so it worked out well for us today.”

Former PLDT veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete also made her mark, seamlessly backing up three-time PVL Best Setter Kyle Negrito in the match that saw multiple lead changes in the opening frame before the latter two became runaway affairs for the Cool Smashers in Pool A action.

Brazilian imports Ilisandra Klein and Isabela Paquiardi paced the loss with game-high totals of 19 and 17 points, respectively, with Klein scoring 12 in the opening set alone before losing steam.

In the other matches of the quadruple-header day, the Kaohsiung Taipower-Taiwan of Pool B and Beijing BAIC Motor-China of Pool C likewise got their grooves on with a pair of sweeps over Hip Hing-Hong Kong and Saipa Tehran-Iran, respectively.

The next match starting at 7 pm are the Philippines’ PLDT High Speed Hitters taking on Australia’s Queensland Pirates in Pool D play. – Rappler.com