Creamline guns for rebound
Games today: (Mall of Asia Arena) 2:30 p.m. — Army vs PLDT 5:30 p.m. — Creamline vs Choco Mucho
Stung by a four-set defeat to Cignal, Creamline tries to bounce back as it battles Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 5:30 p.m. with the Cool Smashers looking to get back on winning track and claim their third win in four matches.
Prior to that, PLDT and Army-Black Mamba aim to break their deadlock at the third spot when they collide in the 2:30 p.m. appetizer.
But all eyes will be on Creamline and Choco Mucho.
Built around the core of the successful Ateneo de Manila University squads in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, both the Cool Smashers and Flying Titans are tipped to go hard to essay another chapter in their storied rivalry, the most recent was Creamline’s pair of four-set wins to sweep their face-off in the recent Open Conference.
Despite their setback to the HD Spikers in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last Thursday, however, the Cool Smashers remain the prohibitive pick with Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez expected to raise their level of play in an attempt to bolster their bid going into the final week of the single round robin eliminations.
But all eyes will be on Creamline and Choco Mucho.
The top four teams will advance to the next round where the Kobe Shinwa team from Japan and the King Whale squad from Chinese Taipei will spice up the title chase.
Choco Mucho, meanwhile, showed a lot of promise after dominating Chery Tiggo and despite their five-set loss to Cignal HD.
But the absence of top hitter Kat Tolentino and fellow starters Des Cheng and Cherry Nunag and back-up libero Thang Ponce due to various reasons hastened the Flying Titans’ defeat to Army last Tuesday.
With middle hitter Aduke Ogunsanya also sidelined after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury on her right knee, things could go tougher and more challenging for the Flying Titans as they face a healthy Creamline crew.
Meanwhile, PLDT and Army brace for a spirited duel following a pair of grueling wins with the High Speed Hitters beating Petro Gazz in five sets and the Lady Trooper repelling Choco Mucho in four sets.
Jules Samonte, Mika Reyes, Fiola Ceballos, Chin Basas and Dell Palomata gear up for a skirmish with the likes of Jovelyn Gonzaga, Royse Tubino and veterans MJ Balse-Pabayo and Nene Bautista, whose five-set escape over Petro Gazz put the team back in the semis hunt.
The Troopers play the resurgent Crossovers on Tuesday then close out their eliminations campaign against the Cool Smashers while the High Speed Hitters collide with the Flying Titans next Thursday before taking on unbeaten Cignal on 30 July.