Games today:
(Ynares Center)
2:30 p.m. — Army vs Cignal
5:30 p.m. — Creamline vs PLDT
PLDT Home Fibr puts its strong start on the line when it battles dangerous Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Game time is at 5:30 p.m. with the High Speed Hitters gunning for their third straight win in the single-round robin semifinal phase of this professional women’s tournament.
Meanwhile, Cignal seeks to rebound from its sorry setback to PLDT as it battles Army Black Mamba in the 2:30 p.m. match.
Both the HD Spikers and the Lady Troopers have yet to barge into the win column, making their battle very crucial as they try to avert a virtual elimination.
After hurdling Army in three sets and Cignal in four, PLDT leads this semifinal round with 2-0, but it will take more than streak, confidence and poise to overcome Creamline.
Against the HD Spikers, the High Speed Hitters have underscored their offensive might as they produced 59 attack points against their rivals’ 46.
More importantly, PLDT showed up with new offensive threats in Jovie Prado and Erika Santos, who combined for 14 points that keyed the team’s stretch-run drive in the third and fourth sets of their come-from-behind 15-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 win over the HD Spikers.
Dell Palomata and Mika Reyes must also re-assert their control of the middle the way they did when they pooled 30 points, mostly on quick attacks and blocks, against the HD Spikers, and in anticipation of their fierce net duel with Creamline’s Pangs Panaga, Risa Sato and Celine Domingo.
While the Cool Smashers look to cash in on their edge on the wings through Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza, the High Speed Hitters also boast of power hitters in Chin Basas, Fiola Ceballos and Jules Samonte with PLDT coach George Pascua now having the luxury of inserting Prado and Santos into his rotation and getting them into the scoring act.
That should make their face-off worth watching with the High Speed Hitters out to get back the Cool Smashers, who thrashed them with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-21 victory on a 53-29 attack romp in the eliminations of the mid-season conference organized by Sports Vision.
Creamline went on to top the qualifier then repulsed Army in four to launch their finals drive to prime itself up against PLDT for a stab at the lead heading into next week’s battle where stamina will come into play given the three-game daily grind starting Monday.
Guest teams Kobe Shinwa from Japan and Taiwan’s KingWhale make their debut as they collide in the 2:30 p.m. opener with Creamline and Cignal HD mixing it up again at 5:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.