Games today (Saturday)
2:30 p.m. – Cignal HD vs Army
5:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Chery Tiggo
Cignal HD sets out for another strong start while eyeing a stronger finish as it kicks off its title drive against Army even as Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo collide in the opener of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference today (Saturday) at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The HD Spikers dished out an impressive start in the recent Open Conference, dominating pool play and sweeping their way to the semis. They appeared headed to sustaining their charge but blew a 1-0 semis series lead and yielded to the Petro Gazz Angels.
But this time, coach Shaq delos Santos has guaranteed his wards’ readiness to go all the way to the championship on a team backstopped by Rachel Anne Daquis, Angeli Araneta, Gel Cayuna, Genn Layug, Frances Molina, Ria Meneses, Jerrili Malabanan and the comebacking Grazielle Bombita.
“We’ve prepared hard for this conference and our goal is to win each game,” said delos Santos. “We’re going all-out on every match since this is a single round robin elims.”Seven teams, including Creamline, Petro Gazz and PLDT, dispute the top four berths in the next round where two foreign squads – the Japan Kobe Shinwa U and Chinese-Taipei’s King Whales – will spice up the title chase in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
But with Jovelyn Gonzaga back in the Army fold, the Lady Troopers also aim for a winning start, along with Honey Royse Tubino, Christine Agno, Sarah Gonzales, Michelle Morente, Jem Gutierrez, Angela Nunag, Jeanette Villareal, Ivy Perez and Audrey Paran.That makes their 2:30 p.m. face-off doubly interesting with the Flying Titans and the Crossovers likewise gearing up for a fierce showdown with the Crossovers at 5:30 p.m. to cap the explosive twinbill aired live on One Sports (free to Air Ch 41 and Cignal CH 6) and One Sports+ (Cignal Ch 91 SD, Ch 261 HD). Both channels are also available on Cignal’s OTT Platform, Cignal Play, with video on demand also available on the platform.
Matches can also be streamed on social media application KUMU and on the league’s official website pvl.ph.
All the games will be played at the San Juan venue except for the July 23 playdate that will pit Creamline against Choco Mucho at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.Expect the tall, young and talented crew of Choco Mucho to also serve notice of its title bid with Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon, Ponggay Gaston and Deanna Wong leading their charge along with Dennise Revilla, Caitlin Viray, Isa Molde, Aduke Ogunsanya, Desiree Cheng and Regine Arocha.
But the Crossovers are also out for redemption following a second-to-last finish in the Open which they ruled in stirring fashion over the Cool Smashers last year.
But one thing that could go against Chery Tiggo, now handled by coach Clarence Esteban, is the likely absence of top hitter and leader Dindin Manabat, who suffered a minor left ankle sprain following a bad fall in a spiking drill in a tuneup match recently.
Still, Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Joy Dacoron, Justine Dorog, Shaya Adorador, Jasmine Nabor, Arriane Layug, Maika Ortiz, Rachel Austero, Elain Kasilag and Alina Bicar will be more than ready to step up and provide a stiff challenge.
Creamline, meanwhile, launches its campaign Tuesday against Petro Gazz in a duel of teams which disputed the Open Conference crown with the star-studded Cool Smashers out to re-stamp their class over the Angels and the latter seeking to get back at the former.