Cool Smashers, wala nang atrasan ang pagbanat sa AVC

ni Gerard Arce - @Sports | August 16, 2022

Kakatawanin ng Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference champion Creamline Cool Smashers ang Pilipinas sa Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup for women simula Agosto 21-29 sa Philsports Arena sa Pasig City.

Kinumpirma mismo ni PVL President at Philippine National Volleyball Federation treasurer Ricky Palou ang paglahok at pagkatawan ng Cool Smashers sa naturang prestihiyosong kompetisyon matapos na walisin sa straight set ang Taipei King Whale sa winner-take-all championship match sa 25-21, 25-19, 25-8 para sa kanilang ikalawang sunod na kampeonato sa kabuuang lima matapos kunin ang titulo ng Open Conference noong nagdaang Abril kontra naman sa Petro Gazz Angels.

“We’re happy to announce that Creamline will represent the Philippines in this tournament so, hopefully their here to cheer out by representing the Philippines. Hopefully everybody will support the national team which will be represented by Creamline,” pahayag ni Palou sa post-game interview ng professional tourney.

Mananatiliing buo ang puwersa ng Cool Smashers sa pangunguna pa rin ng 29-anyos na three-time league-MVP at team captain na si Alyssa Valdez na kinabibilangan nina back-to-back league MVP Diana Mae “Tots” Carlos, 2019 Open Conference MVP Jema Galanza, playmakers Jia Morado-De Guzman at Kyle Negrito, na muling babalik bilang parte ng national squad.

Ang iba pang nakatakdang makasama ng grupo sa national squad sina Finals MVP Celine Domingo, Risa Sato, Michele Gumabao, Jeanette Panaga, Lorie Bernardo, Pau Soriano, Kyla Atienza, Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, Rizza Mandapat, at Rose Vargas.

Head coach ng national squad si Brazilian Edson Souza De Brito at hahalili namang assistant coach si Sherwin Meneses. Maaari ring mapabilang sa national squad sina Trisha Genesis ng Akari at California Precision Sports’ Jelai Gajero.

Matatandaang inalis ang orihinal na grupo ng mga manlalarong binubuo ng 84th season champions ng University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) National University Lady Bulldogs matapos hindi payagan ng team manager na si Mariano See Diet na maglaro sa PVL para palitan ang Kobe Shinwa women’s University.

Makakasama naman ng Pilipinas sa Pool A ang reigning champion China, South Korea, Iran at Vietnam, habang sa Pool B ay bubuuin ng 2018 runner-up Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei at Australia.