Games Today (Tuesday)
4 p.m. – Creamline vs. Chery Tiggo
6:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs. ZUS Coffee
With the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals shaping up as an intense battleground, top-seeded Creamline and No. 2 Petro Gazz aim to impose their dominance against lower-seeded challengers.
But if Akari and Choco Mucho’s dramatic five-set victories over the weekend proved anything, no lead is ever secure, and no favorite is too strong to be challenged.
The Cool Smashers and the Angels enter their respective best-of-three series today as favorites, but their opponents – the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles – are determined to turn these matchups into unpredictable, edge-of-the-seat thrillers at the Philsports Arena.
Creamline boasts a powerhouse core led by Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Bernadeth Pons, and Alyssa Valdez, giving them depth, experience, and firepower.
Playmaker Kyle Negrito has been instrumental in setting up her hitters, while Bea de Leon and Pangs Panaga provide defensive stability at the net.
On paper, Creamline has everything – offensive efficiency, defensive toughness, and championship experience.
They swept the Crossovers in straight sets in the preliminaries, and coach Sherwin Meneses will look to replicate that dominance in their 4 p.m. matchup.
But Chery Tiggo has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
If their inspired Play-In performance is any indication, the Crossovers – led by Ara Galang, Cess Robles, and Shaya Adorador – won’t go down without a fight.
In a short best-of-three series, one strong start or momentum shift could tilt the advantage in their favor.
“Creamline is not an easy opponent, especially since they are full of veteran players. Many of them are really experienced,” Adorador said in Filipino. “But we will work hard and start with ourselves.”
Meanwhile, the Angels, led by Brooke Van Sickle alongside Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, Remy Palma, and Aiza Pontillas, will try to overpower the youthful but resilient Thunderbelles.
Petro Gazz edged ZUS Coffee in four sets in their previous meeting, but it was far from an easy win, as the Thunderbelles fought through extended sets.
“I would like to say that we can’t get too ahead of ourselves. The championship is the goal, but we have to focus on what’s ahead of us,” Van Sickle said.
“We have to take that game seriously, fight as much as we can, and take it game by game. It’s easier said than done to win a championship.”
Despite lacking experience compared to their battle-tested opponents, ZUS Coffee brings energy, hunger, and unpredictability to the court.
Thea Gagate’s net presence, Michelle Gamit’s consistency, and the veteran leadership of Chai Troncoso and Jovelyn Gonzaga give the Thunderbelles a mix of youthful potential and seasoned composure.
If they can disrupt Petro Gazz’s rhythm early, an upset could be brewing.
While history and statistics favor Creamline and Petro Gazz, Akari and Choco Mucho’s five-set thrillers against Galeries Tower and PLDT serve as reminders that past results mean little in high-stakes playoff battles.
The Cool Smashers and the Angels are eager to flex their dominance, but if their opponents can withstand early pressure and build on their Play-In momentum, the quarterfinals could deliver more heart-stopping upsets.
With every team knowing that every set – and every rally – matters, the battle for semifinal spots is bound to be anything but predictable.
