BEA de Leon, the newest member of the Creamline Cool Smashers, revealed that leaving her prior team— Choco Mucho Flying Titans—was one of the most difficult decisions she has ever made in her career.
De Leon will now play for the reigning champions in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in February. She competed against her new team in the last PVL season finals.
As promising as their squad might have been, De Leon welcomed the opportunity to broaden her horizons with fresh experiences. It was a difficult decision for her to make, given her bond with previous teammates.
“It was one of the hardest goodbyes I’ve ever done. You know, just looking at them, seeing them take their team picture, I can’t help but feel sad and happy at the same time,” said De Leon on Thursday in an interview with ABS-CBN News, when Creamline and Choco Mucho signed a sponsorship agreement in Mandaluyong.
The now-former Flying Titan De Leon and former teammate middle blocker Maddie Madayag have a history dating back to their UAAP championships with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Their friendship became stronger in Choco Mucho, until De Leon and libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla left in January.
“Whenever you’re in a team, it’s always the people that make it feel like home, and I always felt that with them. But I felt that, career-wise, volleyball-wise, this was the proper move for me, system-wise especially.”
“I’ve been seeing them everyday for—I can’t even count anymore—eight years. It’s been such a change,” she said.
Photo Courtesy: Premier Volleyball League | Facebook
Madayag, the Flying Titans’ new captain, acknowledged the loss left by De Leon and talked fondly of their cooperation.
“Syempre nalungkot kami kasi matagal na kaming magkasama nila Kat [Tolentino], nila Bea, nila Deanna [Wong], pero it’s part of life kung sa tingin niya mas mag-ggrow siya sa isang team na ito dun siya,” she said.
“Ayaw naman naming siya kumbaga dito ka comfort zone mo yan, gusto nya lumabas sa comfort zone nya gusto pa nya mag explore pa,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez is looking forward to reuniting with De Leon, her former teammate when she was a senior. She believed that their play will be very different this time around.
“I saw them, Bea, Maddie, and Therese [Gaston] together nung rookies sila, kami ang seniors dun, so sobrang daming history, sobrang daming memories,” Valdez said.
“But I think one thing I was very excited about, syempre iba na ‘yung way of play namin this time in our careers. I’m just very excited kung ano ‘yung mga matututunan ko ulit sa kanila, and kung anong mai-impart namin sa isa’t isa.”
De Leon, for her part, welcomed the new beginning and looked forward to collaborating with the “Phenom” again.
“She was my captain for two years when I was a rookie, when I was in my sophomore year, and really she’s guided me through everything. Whatever I am today, she is a big part of it,” she continued.
The newest PVL season begins on February 20. Regardless of how much love these sister teams are showing each other, this season will surely offer a high level of competition.
