Creamline looks to extend its dominant run in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference as it faces a shorthanded but determined Cignal squad on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Despite the HD Spikers' early success, recent roster setbacks have put them at a disadvantage against the unbeaten Cool Smashers, who have thrived even in the absence of key players.
Creamline, already formidable in the first four matches, has been unstoppable since the return of star spiker Tots Carlos, securing back-to-back straight-set victories in the centerpiece tournament of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Watsons.
"Of course, this win is a big help for us because we now have six consecutive wins, and our confidence is always there. But as (Bernadeth) Pons said, we should never be complacent in every game and every point," said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.
"We know they (HD Spikers) will fight hard, and they also have young players," he added.
Cignal, which also started strong with four consecutive wins, has struggled after the sudden departures of skipper Ces Molina and middle blocker Riri Meneses. A recent four-set loss to PLDT exposed the team’s ongoing adjustments, making the HD Spikers underdogs in their 6:30 p.m. showdown with the defending champions.
However, the HD Spikers, now relying on Vanie Gandler, Rose Doria-Aquino, Jackie Acuña, Judith Abil, Ishie Lalongisip, setter Gel Cayuna and libero Dawn Catindig, hope to pull off a reversal.
Another win for Creamline would put the defending champion four victories away from a potential prelims sweep, with Chery Tiggo, Farm Fresh, PLDT, and Galeries Tower as their remaining assignments.
Meanwhile, Cignal is in a crucial race for a higher seeding ahead of the knockout phase, where the top-ranked team will face the lowest seed in a do-or-die battle.
In the 4 p.m. match, struggling teams Akari and Capital1 clash, with the Chargers aiming to improve their 4-4 record, and the Solar Spikers aiming to pick up just their second win in eight outings in the tournament supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar, and Mikasa.
Games are aired live on Pilipinas Live, RPTV, One Sports, One Sports+, and pvl.ph.
