Cohesion will play a big part when Creamline starts its campaign against Vietnam in Pool A of the 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup For Women starting today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Cools Smashers star Michele Gumabao said the squad’s chemistry will be there biggest advantage in the face of top-level competition.
“We are fresh from our tournament so what’s great about Team Philippines is that we are one professional team. We’ve known each other so that will be our greatest advantage,” said Gumabao, whose team swept KingWhale Taipei, 25-21, 25-19, 25-8, in the final of the Invitational Conference last week.
Even with the withdrawal of team captain Alyssa Valdez and Risa Sato due to health issues, Gumabao is still upbeat with their chances.
Cool Smashers Rizza Mandapat and Lorie Bernardo will replace Valdez and Sato, respectively. Another Creamline standout, Tots Carlos is also part of the team.
Aside from the Vietnamese, Creamline will be grouped in Pool A with China, South Korea and Iran.
“Just like any other team, we have been experiencing setbacks due to health reasons but we’re still looking at it positively and like everyone, we want to play our best and have fun.”
The last time Vietnam and the Philippines clashed was at the 31st Southeast Asian Games last May where the Vietnamese delivered a 25-23, 25-19, 25-17 victory over the Filipinos.
Creamline will represent the Philippines after the core of National University was removed after begging off from competing in the PVL Invitational Conference semifinals as a replacement for Kobe Shinwa Women’s University.