Games Today (Tuesday)
4 p.m. – Nxled vs. Creamline
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs. Cignal
The Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference heats up as Cignal and PLDT clash in a high-stakes showdown at the Philsports Arena today (Tuesday).
The HD Spikers, currently second in the standings with a 5-1 record, face a tough challenge against the High Speed Hitters. PLDT is determined to bounce back from a four-set loss to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans last week, while Cignal must cope with roster changes following the departure of former captain Ces Molina and standout middle blocker Riri Meneses.
Despite these setbacks, Cignal swept Galeries Tower in straight sets last week. However, their depth will be tested against PLDT in the 6:30 p.m. main event.
“The good thing about the team is that even though I returned to training late and monitored them only via Zoom, their performance didn’t waver. In fact, they seemed to enjoy it even more. They are committed to fulfilling their goals,” said Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos.
PLDT, meanwhile, looks to capitalize on its roster strength. Savi Davison leads the charge after her 27-point explosion against the Flying Titans, but the team needs stronger offensive contributions from players like Dell Palomata, Erika Santos, Fiola Ceballos, Mika Reyes, and Majoy Baron to overpower the resilient HD Spikers.
Cignal will lean on Vanie Gandler, Jacqueline Acuña, Roselyn Doria-Aquino, Ishie Lalongisip, and Judith Abil to hold off PLDT’s attack.
In the 4 p.m. opener, Creamline aims to extend its winning streak to six when it faces winless Nxled. A victory would tie the Cool Smashers with Petro Gazz Angels at the top of the standings with 17 points.
While Nxled seeks its first win, Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses is likely to experiment with lineups. The Chameleons’ recent four-set loss to sister team Akari Chargers underscores the steep challenge they face against the defending champions.
“Having our key players back and healthy is our number one goal this year,” Meneses said. “We aim to see their performance improve as we progress through the elimination round.”
Creamline has dominated the tournament with three shutout wins in five matches. With the return of Tots Carlos, the Cool Smashers are expected to face minimal resistance unless Nxled can deliver an inspired upset.
The conference, organized by Sports Vision, is supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar, and Mikasa.
Games are aired live on Pilipinas Live, RPTV, One Sports, One Sports+, and pvl.ph.
