One thing is certain heading into the final day of the PVL Invitational’s grueling single-round eliminations: two teams are already out of the title race.
Everything else remains up for grabs.
Four teams still have a shot at the two coveted spots in the knockout championship match, while those who fall short will be relegated to the battle for bronze – with the first two teams eliminated from the title hunt still hoping to salvage a podium finish.
Living up to its pre-tournament billing, the PVL Invitational heads into a riveting final eliminations playdate at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, where EST Cola and Creamline look to formalize their championship-date rematch while Nxled and PLDT fight to keep their own finals dreams alive.
The Thais and the Cool Smashers, both carrying identical 3-1 records, need victories against separate opponents to secure their places in the one-game title showdown on Tuesday. EST Cola takes on already-eliminated Ho Chi Minh at 4 p.m., while Creamline faces fierce rival PLDT at 6:30 p.m. in the day’s main event.
For the High Speed Hitters, there is no room for error. At 2-2, PLDT needs a victory over Creamline to force a tie for the second and last finals berth.
Nxled, also at 2-2, faces a similar must-win situation when it opens the day against Farm Fresh at 1:30 p.m. The Foxies, like Ho Chi Minh, are already out of the championship race at 1-3 but have every reason to make their exit a memorable one by playing spoiler.
The finals race, in other words, could hardly be tighter – or more intriguing.
Saturday’s break gave the contenders a valuable chance to rest, regroup and fine-tune their systems. More importantly, it only heightened the anticipation for a Sunday slate where every set, every rally and every big play could carry major consequences.
EST Cola, in particular, enters the final day brimming with confidence after stunning Creamline in a thrilling four-set victory that dramatically reshaped the race.
The upset was more than just another win for the Thai squad. It was a statement of validation after stumbling in its opening-day assignment, then responding with three straight victories to put itself within striking distance of a breakthrough finals appearance.
Papatchaya Phontham, Nannaphat Moonjakham and Nirarach Srikuta have spearheaded the Thais’ impressive surge, but the team knows the job is far from finished.
Despite their momentum, EST Cola remains wary of Ho Chi Minh, a dangerous mix of young and veteran players that has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament but has struggled to translate those moments into wins.
Nxled, meanwhile, has no choice but to go all-out against Farm Fresh as it tries to keep its slim finals hopes alive. But the Foxies are equally determined to go out with a flourish after their own finals bid was extinguished by a loss to PLDT.
Nxled coach Ettore Guidetti knows his team cannot afford to underestimate an opponent with nothing left to lose.
“We know there is going to be a long fight against Farm Fresh, so we’re going to prepare ourselves physically and mentally to play against a team that also wants to beat us,” said Guidetti, who will bank on Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, EJ Cariño, Jackie Acuña and the indefatigable Jonah Escamillan against a veteran-laden Farm Fresh side.
The Foxies boast plenty of firepower of their own, led by Ces Molina, Royse Tubino, Ara Galang and Mylene Rezanova, with reigning season MVP Trisha Tubu also expected to play a key role.
But all roads ultimately lead to the nightcap, where Creamline and PLDT renew one of the league’s fiercest rivalries in a game that could decide the complexion of the championship race.
Defending champion PLDT enters the showdown riding the confidence of its victory over Farm Fresh on Friday. The High Speed Hitters also have the added incentive of pouncing on Creamline’s first setback after three straight wins – a loss that not only snapped the two-time Invitational champions’ impressive run but also put their bid for a return to the finals in serious jeopardy after they settled for third place last year.
PLDT ace Savi Davison, who erupted for a triple-double of 32 points, 10 digs and 14 receptions against the Foxies, knows there is little separating the two powerhouse teams.
With everything riding on one game, Davison believes desire could ultimately make the difference.
“Whoever comes in wanting it more will win. It’s really up in the air. I feel like anybody could win that game. So, you know, it’s whoever wants it more,” said Davison.
The Fil-Canadian will also get her first look at Creamline newcomer Jaja Minowa, but she insists PLDT cannot afford to become overly focused on one player against a team loaded with weapons.
Davison expects Minowa to be a formidable presence but knows the Cool Smashers’ depth makes them difficult to defend one-dimensionally.
“She’s tall and strong. But she’s just another person on the court for us. We can’t just focus on one person because they’re deep. There’s so much talent on that team that you can’t really isolate one person like that. Of course, she’s an added talent, but they’re all good,” she added.
Davison and the rest of the High Speed Hitters, including Kim Dy, Majoy Baron, Alleiah Malaluan, Mika Reyes and playmaker Kim Fajardo, will be out to prove that PLDT remains the team to beat.
Creamline, meanwhile, has spent its brief break dissecting what went wrong against EST Cola, particularly its inability to put up an effective block when its offense went off-script.
Minowa pointed to the Cool Smashers’ struggles in transition as one of the key reasons they fell to the Thais.
“We had the passing and the attack, but we lacked an effective out-of-system block. They scored a lot against us through their out-of-system plays, especially their left-handed hitter,” said Minowa.
Against PLDT, the Japan league veteran knows the Cool Smashers will need to raise their level immediately – with virtually no time to waste.
With the finals berth at stake, Minowa called for an even greater sense of urgency from the Cool Smashers.
“I think that’s also something we need to work on against PLDT. We have to double our effort. We need to bounce back immediately because we only have one day to prepare, and then we play again on Sunday,” she added.
And so the stage is set.
EST Cola and Creamline have the inside track. Nxled and PLDT are chasing from behind. Farm Fresh and Ho Chi Minh have nothing to lose but everything to gain by spoiling someone else’s party.
By Sunday night, the PVL Invitational will finally have its championship matchup.
Until then, there is still everything to play for.
