Creamline reinforcement Erica Staunton and MVP Bernadeth Pons. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA – For Creamline import Erica Staunton, the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference crown was a manifestation of the club's teamwork and trust with each other.

"I think I learned a lot especially MG [Michele Gumabao] 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," Staunton said after defeating Akari in the Finals on Wednesday night, 25-15, 25-23, 25-17, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

READ: Creamline captures ninth PVL crown at Akari's expense

"I think that’s how Creamline just is as a team from what I’ve seen from their past conferences before I got here. So, I think overall, just teamwork, trusting your teammates," she added. "And then also trusting myself because I want my teammates to be able to trust me. I would say that’s a really big thing and just building team chemistry."

Staunton also said she was happy to play for Creamline in the PVL: "I feel incredibly lucky that this was the team I started out my pro career with. I feel very blessed."

Staunton fired 13 points behind double MVP Bernadeth Pons' game-high 19 points to help Creamline secure the erstwhile unbeaten Chargers.

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The young American spiker also bared the team's mindset despite starting the import-laden contest on a losing note.

"We all worked very hard this whole summer and so, 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," she said. 

"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."

READ: PVL: Creamline completes reverse sweep of Cignal for Finals berth

Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses has no doubt that the 23-year-old Staunton will only improve from here.

"Sobrang teachable si Erica. Number one, kasi 'yung skills niya talaga, talagang bata pa, pero talagang pinipilit niyang makuha 'yung system namin. Number one 'yung training namin, talagang hindi siya umaayaw talaga kahit may masakit sa kanya, talagang nakikipagsabayan siya sa 'min. So, I think maggo-grow pagdating ng maraming laro," said the coach.

This is the first time since 2018 that the Cool Smashers have won the import-laden conference.