Games today:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2:30 p.m. — Cignal vs PLDT
5:30 p.m. — KingWhale vs Creamline
KingWhale and Creamline vie for all the marbles today in the one-game battle for the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 5:30 p.m. with every point crucial in the two teams’ respective bids.
PLDT Home Fibr and Cignal are also scheduled to clash at 2:30 p.m. for the bronze medal.
But eyes will be on Creamline and the Taiwanese entry since they already gave fans a sneak-peek into their skillsets Friday night.
The visiting squad needed five sets to repulse Creamline, 25-15, 17-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-5 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The victory awarded KingWhale the second finals ticket owing to its 3-0 slate. The hometown team had booked itself a place in the finals after racking up its third win earlier.
But KingWhale’s conquest of Creamline could be an indication of what the Cool Smashers will have to go through today.
While the Taiwanese’s game against Cignal yesterday didn’t have any bearing, Taipei head coach Teng Yen-Min used it as a chance to let her young players do their thing.
“We want to let our younger players get more time inside the court before the finals,” said Teng, whose team is battling the HD Spikers as of press time.
“We want them to have our young players get exposed.”
For Creamline, Michelle Gumabao stressed that they need to be prepared for Brazilian import Beatriz Flavio de Carvalho, who erupted for 24 points for KingWhale.
“I think we really need to read their import because if we can check her, our defensive pattern has to be good,” Gumabao said.
Team captain Alyssa Valdez is doubtful for the finals after sustaining an ankle injury last Friday.
“In long rallies, our priority should be scoring immediately. We’re getting outworked there that we would have difficulty saving easy balls from the opponent,” Gumabao added.