Middle blocker Risa Sato has requested to be released from her contract with the Creamline Cool Smashers ahead of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, the team announced on Friday, Nov. 8.

In a statement, the team said Sato’s contract, which is set to expire at the end of December this year, “will still be subject to the conditions outlined in her existing contract.”

“Creamline Management does acknowledge Risa’s significant contributions to the team’s success. In recognition of her many years of dedicated service to the team, we have extended our understanding and utmost consideration regarding her request granting her certain accommodations to support her as an athlete while respecting the terms of the contract,” the statement read.

The management and the team also extended their gratitude to Sato for her dedication to the team over the last six years.

Aside from Creamline, the Fil-Japanese also played for the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders from 2016 to 2017 where she won Best Middle Blocker awards in three conferences in 2017.