Games today:
(Candon City Arena, Ilocos Sur)
4 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs F2 Logistics
6 p.m. — Nxled vs Petro Gazz
Petro Gazz shoots for a share of the lead when it puts it unbeaten card of the line against newcomer Nxled as the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference goes up north today at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The Angels try to win its third straight match and keep pace with solo leader defending champion Creamline in the main game set at 6 p.m.
Opening up the north Luzon stop of the season-ending second serving of the AFC is the showdown between expansion squad Galeries Tower and F2 Logistics at 4 p.m.
Petro Gazz rookie coach Timmy Sto. Tomas is stoked to face the young and talented Chameleons playing under the system of Japanese coach Takayuki Minowa.
“Of course, we’re looking forward to it, especially we want to see how we will fare against the system of coach Taka. Hopefully, we’ll be able to perform well,” Sto. Tomas, whose squad arrived in Candon two days before the playdate.
Performing well won’t be a problem for the veteran-laden squad as it won all of its first two games in dominating fashion.
The Angels swept Galeries Tower to open their campaign before a masterful dismantling of Gerflor, 25-11, 25-4, 25-23, in Batangas City last week.
Sto. Tomas has been tweaking his rotations in the past two matches. All players he fielded were able to deliver despite limited minutes which proved how deep Petro Gazz’s bag of arsenal is.
Nxled behind a youthful lineup eyes a bounce back win after suffering a 20-25, 14-25, 16-25, loss to F2 Logistics last Tuesday in Antipolo.
The Chameleons and Cargo Movers share identical 1-1 slates.
Leading Nxled are Lycha Ebon, Jho Maraguinot, Camille Victoria, Kamille Cal and skipper Dani Ravena against the Angels’ Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Grethcel Soltones, Jonah Sabete, Ranya Musa, Nicole Tiamzon, setter Djanel Cheng and Remy Palma.
Meanwhile, F2 Logistics tries to ignite a winning run following its straight sets drubbing of the Chameleons.
“Of course, a win is always a good boost for the team. Hopefully, we can sustain it and address our lapses. Nothing is perfect so we just have to work through it every day, especially with our team captain (Marano), she’s the heart and soul of this team,” Cargo Movers coach Regine Diego said.
Ivy Lacsina, who is averaging 22.5 points per game, Jolina Dela Cruz, Majoy Baron, Aby Marano, Myla Pablo and libero Dawn Macandili will carry the fight for F2 Logistics.
The Highrisers, on the other hand, seek to taste their first-ever victory in the professional ranks after dropping all their previous two assignments.
Galeries Tower, which absorbed a 14-25, 15-25, 21-25, loss to Chery Tiggo last week, put its faith on winger Dimdim Pacres, Julia Ipac, Anne Esguerra, Roma Joy Doromal and Audrey Paran to get into the win column.
