Akari is ready to light up the Premier Volleyball League with a top podium finish on its very first try, F2 Logistics looks to make a strong impact on its league return and Petro Gazz is all primed for its title-retention drive in the Reinforced Conference.
While the five other teams, including Chery Tiggo, Choco Mucho, Cignal HD, PLDT, and United Auctioneers Army, have also undergone tremendous build-up and preparation for the battle, one team remains the benchmark for the import-laced conference firing off on Saturday (Oct 8 at the Sta. Rosa City Sports Complex in Laguna.
Not only does Creamline boast of an intact roster, but it also has an import armed with a game that could rival those of her equally hard-hitting counterparts.
But one thing going for Yeliz Basa, a Turkish ace who won the gold medal in the Women’s Euro League in 2014, is that she’ll be anchoring a team so rich in championship experience and one loaded with talents.
Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Alyssa Valdez are raring to get going again in pursuit of a first-ever league Grand Slam. Unlike in their dominant win over the KingWhale Taipei side in the last Invitational Conference, the Cool Smashers expect to go through a wringer in the chase for a third straight jewel in the league organized by Sports Vision.
Moreover, it competed in two international tournaments over the past month.
Still, Valdez is aware that history beckons at them. But it's not something they are thinking about.
"Expectations siyempre, honestly, at the back of our heads while in training, that is the goal," said Valdez.
The rest of the teams are coming into the tournament armed with imports of varying skills and styles and locals all want to prove themselves and stop the Cool Smashers from completing the rare feat.
Cignal will test newcomer Akari’s mettle in Saturday’s opener at 5:30 p.m. after the 2:30 p.m. clash between PLDT and Army.
The Power Chargers will be reinforced by Dominican import Prisilla Rivera while Cignal will be led by Tai Bierria.
The Lady Troopers, meanwhile, will pin their hopes on Laura Condotta while the High Speed Hitters will be bannered by Elena Savkina.
Tested Kalei Mau returns as she partners with Lindsay Stalzer to spearhead the F2 Cargo Movers’ title drive after a sixth-place effort in the Open Conference.
The Petro Gazz Angels, winner of the last Reinforced Conference in 2019 before the league took a break due to the pandemic, will be backstopped by Canadian Lindsey Vander Weide when they set out against the Flying Titans, to be headed by Odina Aliyeva.
F2 Logistics and Choco Mucho will clash in an early marquee match after the Creamline-PLDT game.
The top four teams after the single-round elims will advance to the semifinals, another single round robin format with the top to dispute the crown in a novel best-of-five finals.
The league will be played in four venues, including Mall of Asia Arena and Ynares Center in Antipolo with Creamline and Petro Gazz clashing on Oct. 18 at the PhilSports Arena.
F2 and Creamline will face off for the first time on Nov. 5 as F2 Logistics and Creamline at a venue still to be decided while the Flying Titans and the Cool Smashers duel on Nov. 17 at the MOA Arena.
Catch the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and Smart Gigaplay. The games also air on PVL.ph and KUMU.
Matches start on October 8th.
