Creamline Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses hopes their import Erica Staunton is available in October for the PVL Reinforced Conference.
Staunton was the team’s import in the 2024 PVL Invitational and Reinforced Conferences, where they took home the crowns en route to a grand slam victory.
Staunton returned as Creamline’s import in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League, where they recently bowed out of the competition after suffering a straight-set 21-25, 22-25, 16-25 defeat against Nakhon Ratchasima QminC of Thailand.
Before the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League, the Creamline Cool Smashers failed to defend their crown against the Petro Gazz Angels in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
“Wala pa sa bokabularyo namin ang pagpili ng import. Ang focus lang namin after nitong AVC is maka-rest talaga ang mga players namin. Medyo matagal pa kasi ‘yung Reinforced, mas marami pang mga choices. Sana makakuha kami ng maganda kung available man ‘yung gusto namin, especially Erica kung makuha namin si Erica, sana available na siya sa October,” Meneses said after their quarter finals loss to Nakhon Ratchasima.
Aside from Staunton, Creamline also got a much-needed help from imports Anastasiya Kudryashova of Russia and Anastassiya Kolomoyets of Kazakhstan. Still, Meneses gave the locals a chance to face other top Asian volleyball teams.
“‘Yung game kasi di mo masabi kung sino ‘yung nasa loob kasi siyempre ‘yung iba nagpe-perform din nang maganda. Siguro ‘yung mabilisang adjustment din lang, pero sa tingin ko, talagang kinapos kami sa game na ‘to,” he said.
“Hopefully, maging lesson din sa amin. Pero happy kami kasi laging may international sa Philippines and tumataas ‘yung level ng mga teams. Sana ‘yung Creamline tumaas pa lalo ‘yung level at makasabay sa international volleyball.
“Siyempre masaya kami nakalaro kami sa AVC ulit kahit na ganyan ‘yung resulta. Hopefull, next international tournament makapag-prepare kami nang mas maganda. Pero wala naman excuses, talagang hindi kami nakapunta ng semifinals. Masaya pa rin kami at malaking tulong itong experience na ‘to.”
