Big role awaits Creamline recruit De Leon
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is grooming off-season recruit Bea de Leon as a new pillar to help the Cool Smashers keep their dynastic rule in the Premier Volleyball League.
The mentor hopes to bring out the full potential of the club's key pickup under the vaunted Creamline system, which has already translated to seven league crowns including three straight all-local tournament championships.
De Leon, along with another ex-Flying Titan Denden Lazaro-Revilla, were formally welcomed by their former club's sister team last Saturday.
Meneses sees the 27-year-old De Leon as a great replacement to plug the frontline spot left by veteran middle blocker Ced Domingo, who has joined Akari after her contract expired.
"Bea and Ced have different styles of play so you can't really compare the two," Meneses told Daily Tribune on Sunday.
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"But what we want to do is work on Bea's strengths that would fit our system," he added about his plans for the two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion and former national team standout.
De Leon was used sparingly in her final season with Choco Mucho but still made great contributions whenever her number was called.
Meneses wants to maximize the Ateneo de Manila University products' presence in front of the net to support veteran Jeanette Panaga.
Creamline missed the services of Domingo the whole 2nd All-Filipino Conference due to her commitment with Nakhon Ratchasima VC in the Thailand League. Still, the Cool Smashers completed a 15-game tournament sweep for their third perfect championship run.
"We're moving on from the departure of Ced although we did manage (to win the title) in the last conference despite her absence," Meneses said.
Creamline begins its training today to kick off its build up for the season-opening tournament firing off on 17 February.
Meneses is confident De Leon and Lazaro will quickly absorb and adapt to his system with minimal adjustments.
"I guess it's a huge advantage that our recruits are veteran players. I don't think they'll have a hard time adjusting because they've been playing volleyball for a long time.
"We'll just see where their strengths would fit to better help our team."
