Creamline eyes first semis berth

Fancied Creamline tries to formalize its entry into the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference semis today when it meets sister team Choco Mucho at the University of San Agustin gym in faraway Iloilo.

Iloilo City has been a regular stop of the PVL, and another sellout crowd is expected when the Cool Smashers stake their unbeaten 11-0 slate against the surging Flying Titans at 4 p.m. It’s another explosive out-oftown twinbill in the seasonending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

PetroGazz, which stunned Creamline to capture the Reinforced Conference crown early in the season, also puts its remarkable seven-game run on the line against PacificTown Army at 2 p.m.

Though the star-studded Cool Smashers are tipped to repeat their four-set triumph over the Flying Titans last Aug. 31, the latter have shown tremendous improvement and promise after snapping a long skid with a scrambling fiveset escape over Chef’s Classics then beating BaliPure, BanKoPerlas, PacificTown Army and Motolite to bounce back into semis contention.

They remain outside the Magic Four with a 6-6 card but their recent surge has bolstered their chances to grab at least a playoff for the last semis slot with Motolite and BanKo-Perlas barely ahead at joint third with 7-5 slates and PacificTown Army at fifth with a 6-5 mark. PetroGazz is a cinch to clinch the second semis seat with an 8-2 mark.

But Choco Mucho’s vaunted triple towerß combination of Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag and Bea de Leon must come up with one solid game to neutralize Creamline’s vaunted firepower anchored on Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza and Risa Sato.

Focus will also be on the AngelsLady Troopers clash with the former, bannered by Jonah Sabete, Jeanette Panaga, Paneng Mercado, Jovielyn Prado and Cai Baloaloa, out to duplicate their straight-set romp over the latter last Aug. 28.