Games today:
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Capital1
6 p.m. — Akari vs Creamline
After struggling against Farn Fresh the last time, crowd-darling Creamline aims to join three others on top of the leaderboard just two weeks into the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Creamline shoots for a 2-0 win-loss card when it faces Akari in the main game of a double-header at 6 p.m.
Carrying 2-0 marks are PLDT, Chery Tiggo and Choco Mucho, teams that could end up sharing the lead with the Cool Smashers, who are shooting for a third straight PVL title.
In its last outing, Creamline had to shake off Farm Fresh, 34-36, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15.
Now, the star-studded Cool Smashers meet the dangerous Chargers, who, despite their recent four-set defeat to the Cignal HD Spikers, pose a strong challenge to the defending champions.
Former Petro Gazz standout Grethcel Soltones, now with the Chargers, is eager to improve on her initial 14-point performance against the HD Spikers but looks to receive solid support from Dindin Manabat, Faith Nisperos, Princess Madrigal, Fifi Sharma and Joy Soyud.
Although the seasoned Manabat contributed 12 points, the rest of the Chargers failed to reach double figures.
The Cool Smashers, on the other hand, are out to bounce back with a more cohesive lineup featuring Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Pangs Panaga, Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Bernadeth Pons and Risa Sato.
If Creamline falls to Petro Gazz, the two teams would tote identical 1-1 slates.
Farm Fresh, meanwhile, seeks to notch its first victory as it takes on the Capital1 at 4 p.m.
While the Foxies, led by Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Chinnie Arroyo and Rizza Cruz, have shown their ability to compete with top teams, the Solar Spikers, one of the league’s two new teams, are still searching for consistency.
Despite being shut out by the Crossovers in their debut, coach Roger Gorayeb expects an improved performance from veterans like Janine Navarro, Patty Orendain, Arianne Layug and skipper Jorelle Singh, as well as young talents like Sydney Niegos and Shyra Umandal.
