Morado, Valdez start for Creamline PVL Open

Games July 1 (Filoil Arena) 4 p.m. – Creamline vs Akari 6:30 p.m. – Perlas vs Air Force

Former Ateneo star setter Jia Morado will get to reunite with teammate Alyssa Valdez and coach Tai Bundit as Creamline faces off with newcomer AkariAdamson when the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference unfolds on July 1 at the Filoil Arena in San Juan.

Morado, a former UAAP best setter, was the newest acquisition of the Cool Smashers and is expected to take over the starting job from Alex Cabanos during her debut against the Lady Falcons in their 4 p.m. encounter.

Akari is one of the two rookie teams seeing action this conference, the other being the Hapee Fresh Fighters, who will be coached by Jerry Yee and bannered by University of the Phl players headed by Issa Molde and Diane Carlos.

Adamson’s American coach Air Padda will mentor Akari.

Perlas, now coached by Thai Nai Muhammad after Yee left for Hapee, and Air Force will also see action on opening day.

The Lady Spikers will parade Ateneo libero Gizelle Tan and has retained former UP stalwarts Kat Bersola and Nicole Tiamzon to make up for the absence of Dzi Gervacio, who is on a two-month leave to study in the United States.