Creamline bolsters ‘18 roster, signs up Valdez anew

Creamline is making the most of the off-season to firm up its roster in time for the next Premier Volleyball League season where it hopes to nail the elusive crown.

After renewing its ties with top hitter Alyssa Valdez, Creamline signed up Fil-Japanese Risa Sato with the Cool Smashers also keen on hooking it up with Michelle Gumabao and Melissa Gohing.

According to multiple sources, Sato has bid goodbye to her teammate at Bali Pure, last year’s Open Conference champion and Reinforced Conference runner-up.

She will join Valdez, whose contract with Attack Line in the Chinese Taipei League expires at the end of the year, and former Ateneo star setter Jia Morado.

Creamline isn’t stopping there though as it has reportedly got commitments from Gumabao and Gohing, whose contracts with Cocolife and Pocari Sweat are expiring.

Sato, Gumabao and Gohing joining Valdez and Morado should establish Creamline, who will be coached by Thai Tai Bundit, as one of the early favorites to win the season-opening Reinforced Conference tentatively set to start in March.

With Valdez and Morado as their top guns, Creamline finished third in both the Reinforced and Open Conferences last year.

It didn’t help that Valdez also missed time as she suited up for 3BB Nakronont in the Thailand League early in the year as well as the national team that saw action in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games last August.