MANILA, Philippines – The Creamline Cool Smashers, like everybody else in the Premier Volleyball League, will get the rest that they all deserve following one of the toughest, if not the toughest, conferences in league histor y.
But there is a certain air in the Cool Smashers that when they return from their much-needed respite, you could be assured they will be back in the hunting grounds, preying on everybody as alpha predators and collecting championships.
“For now, celebrate muna, bawas stress, wala muna isip sa volleyball,” said triumphant Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses late Sunday night, moments after he steered the dynastic franchise to an unmatched league record eighth championship with a two-game finals sweep and spanking of younger sibling Choco Mucho.
“After that, balik t rabaho at pagbubutihin pa namin next conference,” he added.
It would also be the start of the proud club’s soul-searching of what it needed to do to keep up with the forever revolving improvement of the league landscape and rival squads eyeing to tear down its dynastic reign.
And it would begin inside every Creamline team member.
“Our losses were our lessons,” said Creamline unquestioned leader and the country’s face of the sport — Alyssa Valdez.
“It was really a difficult conference for us, probably because we’re really trying to figure out kung nasan kami at this point in our lives and our career and as a team din kung ano yung kaya pa naming i-improve.”
“But at the end of the day, we take this win as hope to all of us that no matter what, kahit nasaan kami, kahit ano yung rank namin before coming into the semis, may hope and chance talaga lahat ng bagay, hi ndi ka naggi-give up,” she added.
There is also the one concerning the big possibility, if not an inevitable occurrence, of veteran setter Jia de Guzman returning to the team after a stint in Japan last year.
“Oo,” said Meneses, when asked if De Guzman is returning to the team. “Pero yung status niya hindi pa namin alam but we will know bago mag start next conference, hopefully makabalik siya.”
“She will always be with Creamline, mabait lang talaga management in allowing opportunities for them abroad, hindi kami humahadlang,” he added.
Creamline could also add some young blood via the historic first rookie draft by the league tentatively set in July when it will pick 12th and last being the champion of this conference.
“Alam ko dulo kami, depende kung sino mapunta sakin,” said Meneses.
If the pieces fit in and the stars align again, there is a chance fate would make a prophet out of reigning Finals MVP Jema Galanza, who blurted out what could be immortal words and portents of things to come for the rest of the field: “Dadagdagan pa namin ng nine, 10, 11 forever.”
TOKYO, Japan — An online booking system for Mount Fuji’s most popular trail was announced on Monday by Japanese authorities trying to fight overtourism on the active volcano.
Japan’s highest mountain has become increasingly crowded during the summer hiking season, raising concerns over safety and environmental damage.
To ease congestion on the Yoshida Trail, the preferred route for most hikers, the Yamanashi region is planning to cap daily entries to 4,000 people, who will be charged $13 each.
But to address some climbers’ fears that they will be rejected once the daily limit is reached, this year online bookings will also be introduced for the first time.
The system will guarantee people entry through a new gate, “allowing them to plan ahead,” Katsuhiro Iwama, an official from the Yamanashi regional government, told AFP.
Online bookings open on May 20 for the July-September hiking season. Each day at least 1,000 places will be kept free for on-the-spot entry.
Mount Fuji is covered in snow most of the year, but in the summer more than 220,000 visitors trudge up its steep, rocky slopes, many climbing through the night to see the sunrise.
Some attempt to reach the 3,776-metre (12,388-foot) summit without breaks and become sick or injured as a result.
Tourists are also flocking to surrounding areas to snap the majestic mountain, which is seen as a symbol of Japan but whose popularity is proving a burden to locals.
In one photo spot where Mount Fuji emerges behind a Lawson convenience store, exasperated officials are constructing a huge black mesh barrier to block the view.
People who work and live nearby had complained about mostly foreign tourists trespassing, littering and dangerously crossing the street to get the perfect Instagram post.
Record numbers of overseas tourists are travelling to Japan, where in March monthly visitors exceeded three million for the first time.
Residents of Kyoto’s geisha district have also banned tourists from private alleys after complaints that some were rudely demanding selfies with the kimono-clad entertainers.