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Creamline Cool Smashers’ Erica Staunton and Bernadeth Pons celebrate their team’s PVL Reinforced Conference championship. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Winning her first overseas title in her pro debut felt like being on top of the world for Erica Staunton as she relished her success with the Creamline Cool Smashers, who won their ninth PVL title.

Tagged as the right import for Creamline, Staunton joined hands with Conference and Finals MVP Bernadeth Pons to end the Cool Smashers’ six-year PVL Reinforced Conference title drought after a 25-15, 25-23, 25-17 sweep of the erstwhile-unbeaten Akari in the winner-take-all game on Wednesday evening at Philsports Arena.

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“Honestly, I think that we kind of had the mindset of just one game at a time, one set at a time, one point at a time. Especially since we started out this conference with a loss, which wasn’t ideal but I think it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish and I think that we finished very strong,” said Staunton after scoring 13 points off nine attacks, three blocks, and an ace in the Final.

READ: Creamline sweeps Akari for Reinforced crown, 9th PVL title

“We learned a lot from that first loss [to PLDT] and then same thing we learned a lot from our loss against Petro and came on strong against them in the quarterfinals so, I think with this team it’s just been really incredible seeing how you can learn from your mistakes, learn from your lessons and just keep pushing the next day.”

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When Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses was choosing an import for this conference, he knew that Staunton was a good fit for their system.

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Erica Staunton celebrate her team’s PVL Reinforced Conference championship. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“Erica is very teachable. Her skills are exceptional, and even though she’s still young, she really pushes herself to learn our system. Our training is intense, but she never backs down, even when she’s in pain—she keeps up with us,” said Meneses. “I believe she’ll continue to grow as she gains more experience in future games.”

The American spiker, though, gave all the credit to her teammates for bringing out the best in her. 

“Honestly, I think it was 100 percent a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing teammates. So I feel very lucky that I was brought to a team like Creamline. This experience has been unbelievable, I don’t know if there is better volleyball fans out there in the world than in the Philippines,” said Staunton.

“So I’m very lucky to have had this been my first pro contract so, I think I was sort of spoiled in that sense. It’s been above and beyond all expectations. It’s been amazing.”

READ: PVL: Erica Staunton’s leadership bringing best out of Creamline

The Cool Smashers’ once again showcased how chemistry forged through the years can carry a championship run, despite missing Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Jema Galanza. 

“I think I learned a lot especially MG emphasized just how this team is really centered on teamwork. I don’t think one person is the star of the show. I think everybody pulled their weight this entire conference and I think that’s how Creamline just is as a team from what I’ve seen from their past conferences before I got here,” she said.

Staunton and the Cool Smashers won’t have time to celebrate their sweet Reinforced championship as they compete in the Invitational Conference starting on Friday before she plays for the European league in Finland. 

“From here, I’ll be going to Finland so I’ll be playing in the European league for the next couple months through April and then from then, I’m not sure. I’m kind of taking just one season at a time. But first stop is Finland,” she said.