Games today:
(FilOil EcoOil Centre)
4 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Army
6:30 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs PLDT
Surging PLDT and Petro Gazz meet in an explosive battle for a share of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Sporting identical 2-1 win-loss records, both teams search for another victory to move up the standings and join league leaders defending champion Creamline, F2 Logistics and Chery Tiggo, who all carry 3-1 slates.
Both squads are also riding the crest of their respective back-to-back conquests which makes their 6:30 p.m. duel even more exciting.
High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort will be facing his former team for the first time since leaving the Angels following a successful run in the Reinforced Conference last year.
“Petro Gazz is a great team. We helped build it from the ground up. But now that I’m here with PLDT, let’s see if we’ve improved as a team and if we’ll be consistent,” Ricafort said.
“It’s going to be a fun game.”
PLDT has little time to rest following its 25-13, 25-22 27-25, sweep of Chery Tiggo last Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Mean Mendrez has been playing consistently in the High Speed Hitters’ last two games.
Ricafort will once again bank on the open spiker as well as on skipper Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata, Jovy Prado, Michelle Morente, veteran playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan and top libero Kath Arado.
Petro Gazz is coming off a four-day rest after beating Cignal, 28-26, 25-18, 25-13, last Saturday.
Head coach Oliver Almadro pins his hopes on Grethcel Soltones, league-leading blocker Remy Palma, Jonah Sabete and seasoned winger Aiza Maizo-Pontillas to get the job done.
“It’s just another game so we need to prepare very well. We’ll see what they’ll give us and then we just need to adjust quickly,” Almadro said.
Meanwhile, skidding Choco Mucho and winless Army clash in the curtain-raiser slated at 4 p.m.
The Flying Titans look to end a two-game slide to improve their 1-3 card while the Lady Troopers continue their hunt for the elusive victory after falling short in their first three tries.
