The top two seeds in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference quarterfinal phase take center stage with contrasting objectives – Creamline looks to complete a sweep against Chery Tiggo and advance, while Petro Gazz fights to keep its semifinal hopes alive against a surging ZUS Coffee in their respective best-of-three series.
With the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Akari Chargers securing the first two semis spots after thrilling five-set victories over the PLDT High Speed Hitters and the Galeries Tower Highrisers, respectively, last Thursday, the Crossovers and the Angels are now in a must-win situation. Desperate to force a rubber match, both teams will battle it out as action resumes on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
But top seed Creamline is determined to secure yet another Final Four berth, having never missed the semifinals since joining the league in 2017. The Cool Smashers have set the standard with a record 10 championships, including the last four, in the league organized by Sports Vision.
Chery Tiggo, despite showing resilience in the second set of Game 1, will need to dig deeper if it hopes to halt Creamline’s march. Coach Sherwin Meneses, however, remains wary of the Crossovers’ tenacity.
“This is the quarterfinals. No team will go down easily. We expect Chery Tiggo to fight until the end, and we are prepared for that situation,” said Meneses, who is also out to extend a personal milestone – his 101st career win.
Alyssa Valdez, whose vintage 16-point performance powered Creamline in Game 1, credited the team’s relentless work ethic and chemistry for their sustained dominance despite coming off a two-week break.
“We didn’t get rusty because we worked double time. We struck a balance between light and hard training, and it paid off,” Valdez shared.
“Familiarity plays a crucial role in these situations. But we also recognize the challenge of adapting to changes in a long-running system. In the end, we trust and believe in each other,” she added.
With Valdez leading the charge, the Cool Smashers look to dash Chery Tiggo’s semis hopes and move two steps closer to another championship.
The second-seeded Angels, however, find themselves in a precarious position after being stunned by the young and fearless ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in Game One of their side of the quarterfinal series in the tournament supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar and Mikasa.
Despite having seasoned veterans like Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chai Troncoso, ZUS Coffee remains a predominantly young team. However, with rising stars such as Thea Gagate, Michelle Gamit and Chinnie Arroyo – alongside the brilliant playmaking of Cloanne Mondonedo – the Thunderbelles have continued to defy expectations.
Now, the Angels must regroup and respond. Their 10-game winning streak was snapped in brutal fashion, but Myla Pablo insists they won’t back down.
“We can’t be the ones playing catch-up,” said Pablo in Filipino, who scored 14 points in the loss.
She admitted that their lack of aggressiveness hurt them.
“I think we were lacking that fighting spirit inside the court,” she said.
Despite the setback, the Angels remain determined.
But they must find a way to neutralize the Thunderbelles’ growing confidence, as ZUS Coffee aims to turn what once seemed an improbable semis run into reality.
Games are aired live on Pilipinas Live, One Sports, One Sports+, and pvl.ph.
