Chery Tiggo puts its early streak and share of the lead on the line as it clashes with a surging Choco Mucho side today (Tuesday) even as F2 Logistics and PLDT tangle in a duel of struggling teams in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference elims.
The fiery twinbill marks the league’s return to the Philsports Arena in Pasig following another foray in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last weekend where Creamline subdued Cignal in four to rejoin Chery Tiggo at the helm with three wins apiece.
But scoring a follow-up to their five-set escape over the Akari Chargers last Thursday should require a more solid, cohesive play from the Crossovers, who played without injured Dindin Manabat and had to scramble from 1-2 set down to hurdle past the league’s newcomers with their chemistry and bench depth.
Their leader’s continued absence, however, could pose a big void in their offense and poise, given the challenge expected to be provided by the young, tall, talented Choco Mucho, which bounced back from an opening game loss to Petro Gazz with victories over F2 Logistics and PLDT.
For one, the Flying Titans are coming into their 2:30 p.m. duel all fired up after surviving the High Speed Hitters in a thriller of a five-setter, also last Thursday, with import Odina Aliyeva hoping to better her 30-point explosion and locals Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon, Des Cheng, Regine Arocha, Cherry Nunag, Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag and playmaker Deanna Wong vowing to further raise their level of play.
But even without Manabat, the Crossovers’ locals continued to buck the odds behind the stellar games of Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Cza Carandang, Shay Adorador and Alina Bicar with import Jelene Cvijovic slowly but surely getting into the groove after six-point game against the Cargo Movers, a 12-point outing against the Cignal HD Spikers, and a 16-point burst against Akari.
A victory by Chery Tiggo will put the inaugural pro league champions back in the solo lead but a reversal will leave idle Creamline alone at the top and net Choco Mucho a share of second place with the Crossovers.
Boosting their semis chances will also be on the Cargo Movers and the High Speed Hitters’ minds as they slug it out in the 5:30 p.m. main game with the former seeking to ride on their straight-set romp over the Army Lady Troopers following back-to-back losses in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
PLDT, on the other hand, is out to redeem itself from blowing a 2-1 set lead over Choco Mucho and check a two-game skid after surviving Army in five last Oct. 8.
Games are telecast live on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play and Smart Gigaplay
