By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Creamline Cool Smashers just boosted its firepower after signing beach volleyball star Dij Rodriguez for the upcoming 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
Creamline’s newest acquisition was confirmed last February 13, 2024, after the Cool Smashers proudly announced that Rodriguez will be making her debut in the upcoming conference.
The former Philippine beach volleyball women’s national squad member became the second player in the Creamline franchise to make the transition to the indoor volleyball scene after Bernadeth Pons.
Pons, who immediately made an impact in Creamline, left the beach volleyball scene to play indoor last June 3, 2023.
The athletic outside hitter didn’t only fortifiy Creamline’s solid attacking pool but she also helped them win the last PVL All-Filipino championship title.
The same as Pons, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is expecting a lot of things from Rodriguez in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
During the recent Asian Games, Rodriguez together with Gen Eslapor qualified in the beach volleyball quarterfinals.
Rodriguez was stellar during the qualification match as she pummeled the duo of On Leng Leong and Weng Sam Law of Macau, 21-15, 21-15.
However, their run came to an end after they suffered a quarterfinal defeat at the hands of Japan’s Sayaka Mizeo and Miki Ishii.
Despite the loss, Rodriguez and Eslapor helped the PHL national team achieve its best finish in the Asian Games at fifth place.
Rodriguez will look to bring her winning mentality to Creamline and will team up with the country’s best players in Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Bea De Leon.
