THERE were doubts whether Creamline will survive without the vital cogs from its previous championship runs after losing to PLDT in its conference opener.

Of course, there was Akari which entered the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference Final with a perfect 10-0 record and was poised in achieving a breakthrough.

But in the end, the Cool Smashers delivered in moments that mattered, while sending the Chargers crashing back to earth to secure a record-extending ninth championship.

“I think it is about not how you started but it is how you finish. I think, we finished very strong. I think we learned lot from that first loss,” said outside spiker Erica Staunton.

Creamline is on a cloud nine, cementing its status as the most decorated club in PVL history.

Prior to winning this one, the only time the Cool Smashers won an import-laced tournament was their first-ever PVL title in the 2018 Reinforced Conference behind Thai Kuttika Kaewpin and American Laura Schaudt. Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao and Risa Sato were also part of the champion team.

Six years later, Creamline ended its heartbreaks by proving it can emerge on top in the league’s biggest stage with reinforcements, thanks to young American Staunton.

Do-it-all Bernadeth Pons was also a big revelation by bagging the conference and Finals MVP awards.

With Jema Galanza out due to Alas Pilipinas commitments, Pons was able to filled the gap by producing solid all-around numbers in the preliminaries and being clutch in the semifinal, bailing the Cool Smashers out of elimination.

Indeed, the absence of key players had cast doubts over Creamline’s ability to handle both internal and external challenges.

But with Staunton gradually adjusting to the team’s system and Pons stepping into a crucial leadership role, the Cool Smashers displayed their depth and being on the same page, committed to coach Sherwin Meneses’ system.

Meneses’ role has evolved into that of a strategic advisor – he knows his players are aware of what needs to be done and trusts them to execute on the court.

“Every championship is special,” Meneses said. “But this one stands out because we were missing a lot of key players. Despite that, our team worked incredibly hard and still managed to secure the title.”

“Each championship is special, but this one, in particular, showed just how much grit and determination this team has.”

Staunton, who is headed to Finland for the European league for the next of couple of months until April after completing her first overseas stint in the Philippines, is wrapping up her Creamline stint in the Invitational Conference as the team shoots for title No. 10.

With the Cool Smashers centered on teamwork, Staunton was a good fit, happy to get the job done in the Reinforced Conference and hopefully win another championship before she leaves the country.

“Overall, just teamwork, trusting my teammates and also trusting myself. I would say that was really a big thing in building team chemistry,” Staunton said.

“I feel incredibly lucky that this was the team that I have started my pro career with. I feel very blessed,” she added.

After celebrating its Reinforced Conference conquest, Creamline immediately returns to action today against Thailand’s EST Cola, a team consists of U20 standouts at 4 p.m. today at the Santa Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex.