Games today:
(PhilSports Arena)
9 a.m. — Chery Tiggo vs Choco Mucho
11:30 a.m. — F2 Logistics vs PLDT
4 p.m. — Creamline vs Cignal
6:30 p.m. — Kurashiki Ablaze
vs Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh
Unbeaten defending champion Creamline takes another acid test in a clash with feisty Cignal in their Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference semifinals showdown today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Cool Smashers seek to boost their chances of advancing to the finals with another victory in the 4 p.m. clash to be followed by the exciting debut battle between foreign guest teams Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan and Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam at 6:30 p.m.
Still, the focus will be on the Alyssa Valdez-skippered Creamline crew as it looks to capitalize on a morale-boosting win over F2 Logistics in a grueling five-setter just two days ago.
Valdez’s composure and veteran smarts at crunch time pulled the Cool Smashers through in a 12-25, 25-15, 23-25, 30-28, 15-7, escape over the hard-fighting Cargo Movers to sport a 2-0 win-loss carryover semis record.
Creamline has yet to drop a game after five outings in the mid-season tournament.
But head coach Sherwin Meneses knows that he must push the team further to accomplish their goal of defending their crown and claiming a second straight title after ruling the All-Filipino Conference.
“It’s really difficult to prepare because you only have one day to prepare in between games. So we’ll just take a quick rest and prepare for the next game because we have a really compact conference,” he said.
“We’ll just go back to basics (in our preparation) and draw up a good plan against Cignal,” Meneses added as he also pins his hopes on other key pieces in his star-studded roster led by reigning conference Most Valuable Player Tots Carlos, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza and top setter Jia Morado-de Guzman.
However, Cignal is no pushover team either.
Laden with seasoned players bannered by the grizzled tandem of Jovelyn Gonzaga and team captain Rachel Anne Daquis, the HD Spikers are also on a roll with four consecutive wins.
Cignal opened its semis campaign with a 25-22, 25-15, 25-21, sweep of sister team PLDT last Thursday to tie F2 Logistics with 1-1 card.
Against the Cool Smashers, HD Spikers tactician Shaq delos Santos wants his wards to up the ante to pull off an upset and boost their own finals desire.
“We must raise our game. Creamline is a very strong team,” Delos Santos said.
“We’ll just enjoy our game on Saturday because it’s not everyday you get to play against the defending champion. We know what we’re capable of. We just need to be consistent in our game.”
Backing up the “GonzaQuis” pair are Ces Molina, Roselyn Doria, Ria Meneses and vastly-improved setter Gel Cayuna.
Meanwhile, F2 Logistics and PLDT try to rebound from their semis opening match defeats and fan their finals bids in their 11:30 a.m. encounter.
With Kim Kianna Dy’s status doubtful after being forced out of action in the fourth set against Creamline due to pain in her right leg and knee, the Cargo Movers will rely on Myla Pablo, Aby Marano, Ivy Lacsina and Majoy Baron.
Royse Tubino, Mean Mendrez, Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata, Fiola Ceballos and Michelle Morente will take charge of the High Speed Hitters, who are on the brink of elimination with a 0-2 slate.
In the curtain-raiser at 9 a.m., Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo square off for the consolation seventh-place finish.
