Cignal HD Spikers secured a decisive straight-sets victory against Gerflor, setting the stage for a thrilling clash in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference semifinals. Meanwhile, Creamline's triumph over Galeries later in the day added further excitement to the impending showdown.
The HD Spikers, undeterred and uncomplicated in securing their final Top Four ticket, will face the formidable Choco Mucho Flying Titans, the second-ranked team after the eliminations. With a stellar 10-game winning streak, the Flying Titans, led by their 5-foot-9 open spiker Ces Molina, are riding high, their only defeat handed to them by the undefeated Cool Smashers on opening day.
Molina, the Invitational MVP, acknowledges the challenging road ahead in the postseason, as the remaining three teams were the ones that inflicted their three losses in the elimination round. Despite the setbacks, Molina urges her teammates to focus on their strengths and not dwell on past defeats, particularly their encounter with Choco Mucho in the preliminary round.
The Flying Titans dominated their previous matchup on October 26, but the HD Spikers, resilient and determined, bounced back with an impressive streak, with their only setback coming from a fierce five-set battle with Chery Tiggo.
"Our first mindset is to focus on our strength because the teams we're facing in the semis are highly respected, and they have high volleyball IQ," Molina emphasizes. "We'll prepare and concentrate on our strengths because that's what we lacked in the eliminations when we faced those who also made it to the semis. We'll focus on ourselves and our team."
Vanie Gandler, a crucial addition to the team, highlights teamwork as their key strength that needs to be emphasized to break the apparent invincibility of the Flying Titans. "Coming into the semis, it's really going to be more challenging, everyone wants it, so yeah, we're just going to work on this one, hopefully, we make it," says the Ateneo product.
Head coach Shaq Delos Santos echoes the sentiment that the impending clash with Choco Mucho goes beyond skills. In high-stakes games, the determining factor is the team's eagerness to win.
"I think skills won't be discussed too much; perhaps the eagerness to want to win this coming semis," Coach Delos Santos shares. With Game 1 scheduled for Thursday at the Philsports Arena, the HD Spikers are poised for an intense battle against the Flying Titans, setting the stage for an electrifying semifinal series. The other bracket will witness Creamline facing off against Chery Tiggo in another exciting matchup. The stage is set, and the volleyball enthusiasts await the unfolding drama of the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
