Tuguegarao hosts Pocari PVL match vs PayMaya

Games today (People’s Gym, Tuguegarao City) 2 p.m. – PayMaya vs Pocari Sweat-Air Force 4 p.m. – Banko-Perlas vs Creamline

Pocari Sweat-Air Force kicks off its title retention bid against PayMaya while Alyssa Valdez-led Creamline clashes with an intact BanKo-Perlas squad as the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference goes to the People’s Gym in Tuguegarao today.

The new-look Lady Warriors, who will parade an Air Force core to complement holdovers Myla Pablo, Jeanette Panaga and Elaine Kasilag, go up against opening day winner High Flyers at 2 p.m.

Pocari Sweat lost key players from its championship team, including top libero Melissa Gohing and Cai Nepomuceno to Creamline and Petro Gazz, respectively.

But Lady Jet Spikers Wendy Semana, Iari Yongco and Angel Antipuesto as well as imports Madeline Palmer and Arielle Love are expected to more than fill in the void as the Lady Warriors begin their campaign against the High Flyers who are coming off a 25-8, 3331, 25-20 victory over Tacloban in last week’s inaugurals of the second season of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Asics and Mikasa.

Pocari and Creamline switch rivals at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, tomorrow.

“My concern is that the players will be playing two games in a row as well as the heat,” said PayMaya coach Roger Gorayeb, who will pin his hopes again on the powerhitting Grethcel Soltones, Jasmine Nabor, Lizlee Pantone and reinforcements Tess Rountree and Shelby Sullivan.

Meanwhile, Valdez, Michele Gumabao and reinforcements Kuttika Kaewpin and Nikolina Asceric try to lead the Cool Smashers to their second straight victory against Dzi Gervacio and Amy Ahomiro of the Spikers at 4 p.m.

Games can be viewed live streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com/livestream/.

Leaning on Kaewpin (17 points), Valdez (14) and Gumabao (9), Creamline got off to a strong start with a 25-18, 25-16, 25-13 victory against Petro Gazz last week.

“We go out of town and there are external factors also but coach Tai (Bundit) is going to prepare us for sure,” said Valdez.