Creamline eyes rebound vs embattled Choco Mucho

Stung by a four-set defeat to Cignal HD, Creamline tries to get back on track against a Choco Mucho side also reeling from back-to-back setbacks on manpower loss as the Cool Smashers and the Flying Titans set aside their affiliation to re-fuel their respective semifinal drive in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference today (Saturday).

Tickets to the 5:30 p.m. match at the SM Mall of Asia Arena have been sold out as early as last week with the organizing Sports Vision needing to turn down some requests for the highly anticipated duel of two of the league's most popular teams built around the core of former Ateneo squads in the UAAP.

But Creamline has got Choco Mucho's number in their past duels, the recent of which was the Cool Smashers' pair of four-set victories to sweep their semis face-off in the recent Open Conference, leading to the former's fourth franchise championship and a first pro crown over the Petro Gazz Angels.

Despite their setback to the HD Spikers in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last Thursday, however, the Cool Smashers remain the prohibitive pick with Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez expected to raise their level of play after falling short against the HD Spikers in an attempt to bolster their bid going to the final week of the single round robin elims among seven teams.

With a 2-1 card, Creamline slipped to joint second with PLDT and Army, whose clash in the 2:30 p.m. opener is tipped to go the full route given the weight of the match result for their respective semis aspirations.

Games are aired live on One Sports (free to Air Ch 41 and Cignal CH 6) and One Sports+ (Cignal Ch 91 SD, Ch 261 HD). Both channels are also available on Cignal's OTT Platform, Cignal Play, with video on demand also available on the platform.

Matches can also be streamed on social media application KUMU and on the league's official website pvl.ph.

The top four teams will advance to the next round where the Kobe Shinwa team from Japan and the KingWhale squad from Taiwan will spice up the title chase in the mid-season offering of the league organized by Sports Vision.

Choco Mucho, meanwhile, showed a lot of promise after dominating Chery Tiggo and despite their five-set loss to Cignal HD. But the absence of top hitter Kat Tolentino and fellow starters Des Cheng and Cherry Nunag and back-up libero Thang Ponce due to various reasons hastened the Flying Titans' defeat to Army last Tuesday.

But with middle hitter/blocker Aduke Ogunsanya also sidelined after suffering an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury on her right knee, things could go tougher and more challenging for the Flying Titans as they face a healthy Creamline crew.

Meanwhile, PLDT and Army brace for a spirited duel following a pair of grueling wins with the former holding off Petro Gazz in five and the latter repelling Choco Mucho in four.

Jules Samonte, Mika Reyes, Fiola Ceballos, Chin Chin Basas, and Dell Palomata gear up for a skirmish with the likes of Jovelyn Gonzaga, Royse Tubino, and veterans MJ Balse-Pabayo and Nene Bautista, whose five-set escape over Petro Gazz put the team back in the semis hunt.

The Troopers play the resurgent Crossovers on Tuesday then close out their elims campaign against the Cool Smashers while the High Speed Hitters collide with the Flying Titans next Thursday before taking on unbeaten Cignal on July 30.