Over the past eight years, Creamline has only fallen short of the crown four times in 17 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) conferences — one of which was its most recent loss to Petro Gazz.

Despite bowing to the Angels in four sets during the All-Filipino Conference Finals on Saturday night at the Philsports Arena, Cool Smashers team captain Alyssa Valdez saw it as a moment not just of acceptance, but of growth.

“We win some, we learn some. And we actually do hope that we learn a lot from this loss. I honestly feel like it’s part of the journey,” Valdez shared after the match.

Though the loss ended their bid for another title, the iconic leader of the 10-time PVL champions viewed the rare defeat as a reminder of their mortality — proof that even dynasties stumble, and that self-inflicted pressure can sometimes be the toughest opponent.

“We can’t win everything, but we’re taking this loss as something that humanizes us at the end of the day — because sometimes, we’re our own worst enemies,” Valdez said.

“But Petro Gazz did an amazing job today.”

Despite the heartbreak, Creamline’s story doesn’t end here. Just weeks after the grueling five-month domestic conference, the Cool Smashers are set to represent the Philippines in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League from 20 to 27 April at the Philsports Arena, alongside Petro Gazz and PLDT.

And this time, they’re carrying lessons instead of medals.

“We’re gonna take this loss as a win in terms of at least we finished the season whole and together,” Valdez said.

“As coach Sherwin (Meneses) always reminds us, as long as we can still rise and play, we’ll keep fighting.”

Valdez, whose career has been defined by resilience and leadership, knows that the team’s next chapter isn’t just about bouncing back — it’s about rising wiser.

“Hopefully, we bring all the lessons from this experience into the (AVC) Champions League,” she added.

“I’m sure we’ll learn even more from the veteran teams there.”