‘Everything to gain’: Alyssa Valdez not dwelling on Creamline’s early AVC exit 

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Alyssa Valdez sticks to the positives as Creamline’s campaign in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League comes to an early end after a straight-set loss to Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima in the quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines – Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez opted to stick to the positives after the Cool Smashers suffered an early exit in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League. 

The 10-time PVL champions crashed out of title contention after absorbing a 15-25, 22-25, 16-25 sweep at the hands of Thailand powerhouse Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC in the knockout quarterfinals on Thursday, April 24. 

After a promising start to the tournament against Al-Naser Jordan in Pool A, the Cool Smashers closed out their short campaign with a 1-2 record — dropping both those matches against Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu VC and Nakhom Ratchasima, respectively, in straight sets. 

“We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain in this tournament,” Valdez told reporters.

“Hopefully we carry this [into the future] even after the loss in the PVL. This is a good experience for all of us.”

Coming off a grueling campaign in the PVL All-Filipino Conference, where they lost to the Petro Gazz Angels in a thrilling three-game championship series earlier this month, Valdez admitted that Creamline had little time to prepare for the AVC Champions League. 

The Cool Smashers also had to adjust their style of play quickly following the arrival of imports Erica Staunton, Anastasiya Kudryashova, and Anastassiya Kolomoyets. 

Still, Valdez offered no excuse as she looks forward to representing the Philippines again in future international tournaments. 

“It was actually a tall order for us because we didn’t get to prepare so much for this tournament, but no excuses,” said Valdez.  

“We had new imports and we tried to adjust. Hopefully next time, we’d be more ready and more prepared for the AVC,” she added in Filipino. 

With Creamline and the PLDT High Speed Hitters already eliminated, the Philippines’ hopes for a podium finish now rest on the shoulders of Petro Gazz, which is looking to pull off an upset against China’s BAIC Motor Volley Club in the quarterfinals as of press time. – Rappler.com