Games Saturday (Sta. Rosa, Laguna)
2:30 p.m. – Cignal vs Choco Mucho
5:30 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Petro Gazz
Four teams in the thick of the fight for the last two semifinal slots go all-out to bolster their respective bids as they clash today (Saturday) in a pair of crucial matches that would either clear or muddle up the race in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference elims back at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
Third-running Petro Gazz collides with a resurgent F2 Logistics side in the 5:30 p.m. main game with the defending champion Angels eager to get going coming off a week-long break after a three-set romp over the Akari Chargers last Oct. 22 that hiked their record to 2-1.
But the Cargo Movers have won their last two games after dropping their first two and are all fired-up to go for another in an attempt to barge into the upper half of the nine-team field in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Choco Mucho, tied with F2 Logistics at fourth with 2-2 slates, tries to rebound from a four-set defeat to first semifinalist Chery Tiggo last Tuesday as it faces Cignal at 2:30 p.m.
The HD Spikers, one of the favorites to make it to the next phase, needed four sets to repulse newcomer Akari Chargers in the opening day but succumbed to the Crossovers and the Creamline Cool Smashers to find themselves at sixth with a 1-2 mark.
That should make their match against the Flying Titans a virtual test of character since another loss would imperil their campaign in the single round robin elims.
But the Flying Titans are also reeling from a four-set setback to the Crossovers last Tuesday that likewise snapped their two-game run over the Cargo Movers and the PLDT High Speed Hitters after dropping their opening game to the Angels.
Against the seasoned HD Spikers, Choco Mucho coach Oliver Almadro expects to draw solid games from his tall frontline crew made up of Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag with import Odina Aliyeva also bracing for a fierce duel with counterpart Tai Bierra and the likes of Rachel Anne Daquis, Roselyn Doria, Ces Molina, Angeli Araneta and Chay Troncoso.
The Petro Gazz-F2 Logistics face-off also promises to be a clash of power and style with the Angels’ hard-hitting import Lindsey Vander Weide and locals Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, Grethcel Soltones and Aiza Pontillas, along with MJ Phillips raring to slug it out with an F2 side reinforced b Lindsey Stalzer and backstopped by the talented crew composed of Kianna Dy, Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Joy Baron, Ivy Lacsina, Iris Tolenada and Kalei Mau.
Games are aired on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play and Smart Gigaplay with hashtag #TheHeartofVolleyball.
