Games today:
(Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center)
4 p.m. — Gerflor vs Akari
6 p.m. — PLDT vs Creamline
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental — Defending champion Creamline put its unblemished record on the line as it tries to move closer to a semifinals seat in a showdown against PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference today at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center.
The City of Golden Friendship welcomes the league in the Mindanao leg of its out-of-town tour with two action-packed pairings highlighted by the 6 p.m. spikefest between the Cool Smashers and the High Speed Hitters.
Creamline has been lording over the second serving of the all-local tournament, blasting all of its first six assignments including a lopsided, 25-19, 25-21, 25-16 victory over F2 Logistics last Tuesday.
“The team is in high morale after a great win over (F2 Logistics). But knowing PLDT, they are a veteran team and have a new powerful player (in Savannah Davison). We prepared well against them and we’re ready,” Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses said.
All eyes will be on setter Kyle Negrito, who has been consistent in her playmaking, as she tries to activate the main weapons of Creamline in skipper Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Bernadeth Pons and Michele Gumabao to prevail over PLDT.
The High Speed Hitters, on the other hand, want to bounce back big time after seeing their five-game win streak got snapped by Chery Tiggo, 25-14, 20-25, 26-28, 19-25, last week.
Fil-Canadian winger Davison will be backstopped by Erika Santos, Del Palomata, Mika Reyes, Riyse Tubino, setter Rhea Dimaculangan and multi-titled libero Kath Arado in PLDT’s charge to get back on the winning track.
Meanwhile, Akari seeks to recover from a three-game losing skid when it takes on winless also-ran Gerflor at 4 p.m.
The Chargers bowed to sister team Nxled, 25-22, 17-25, 23-25, 16-25, last Tuesday to slide down to a 3-4 slate.
Led by Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Faith Nisperos, Eli Soyud and Fifi Sharma, Akari is favored to better the Defenders, who have yet to win a game in seven outings.
Gerflor last fell victim to Farm Fresh, 17-25, 17-25, 15-25, last Tuesday despite the efforts of Jeanette Villareal, Danika Gendrauli and Menchie Tubiera.
