With a tightly-contested leaderboard, Creamline and Petro Gazz pull out all the stops to secure favorable positions heading to the crucial grind of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims, facing Capital1 and Chery Tiggo, respectively, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
While the Cool Smashers are favored to hurdle the Solar Spikers in their 4 p.m. clash, the Angels brace themselves for another intense battle, characteristic of encounters among the league’s top teams.
PLDT’s remarkable five-set victory over the previously unbeaten Choco Mucho side late Tuesday has created a five-way logjam at the top at 4-1 (win-loss), among PLDT, Choco Mucho, Creamline, Cignal and Petro Gazz, intensifying the significance of every match in the single round-robin elims as teams vie for coveted spots in the semifinals round.
With their depth of talent and experience, the Cool Smashers enter their match against the Solar Spikers with added motivation, seeking to rebound from a tough shutout loss to the resurgent Chery Tiggo Crossovers last weekend in Sta. Rosa that snapped a four-game run.
But ranged against a team struggling with a 1-4 record, observers believe Creamline’s overall superiority could propel the Cool Smashers past the Capital1 side.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Petro Gazz-Chery Tiggo showdown at 6 p.m. with the Angels looking to build on their three-game win run after a five-set defeat to the Flying Titans last Feb. 27.
Eya Laure, Cza Carandang, Ara Galang, along with Mylene Paat, Aby Maraño and EJ Laure are raring to re-display the form they showed against the Cool Smashers although the Angels are coming into the match in high spirits – and fresh from a week-long break.
Led by the prolific Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz boasts of a strong supporting cast, including Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, Joy Dacoron, Michelle Morente, Kecelyn Galdones and Nicole Tiamzon.
Former league MVP Myla Pablo is also expected to play a significant contribution for the Angels.
Games are telecast live on free-to-air on One Sports, in HD on One Sports+, as well as on the PVL’s official website (pvl.ph) and the Pilipinas Live app. Global coverage includes the new free-to-air channel – RPTV.
