Creamline prepares for the tough Final Four grind as it faces Adamson-Akari today, looking for no less than an emphatic victory in a bid to claim the No. 1 ranking in the post-elims play of the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Open Conference in Batangas City.
“We want that extra push going to the Final Four,” said Creamline star Alyssa Valdez, stressing the need for the Cool Smashers to hurdle a team that has nothing to lose but everything to gain in their 4 p.m. encounter at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Tied with BanKo-Perlas for the lead at 10-3, Creamline can clinch the top seeding in the semis with a straight-set or four-set victory over the winless Adamson-Akari side even if the Perlas Spikers hurdle the Tacloban Fighting Warays in the other match at 2 p.m. winding up the double-round elims of the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
The Cool Smashers disposed of the Lady Falcons in three in their first round clash last Oct. 10, making them the overwhelming favorites again although the latter are expected to play all out in an attempt to nail the win that has eluded them the last 13 games.
Creamline coach Tai Bundit, meanwhile, may also try new combinations in preparation for a projected semis clash with No. 4 PetroGazz, which the Cool Smashers swept last Wednesday.
BanKo-Perlas, on the other hand, gears up for a Final Four duel with Ateneo-Motolite, which closed out its impressive elims campaign with a 10-4 card for third.
The Lady Eagles are actually using the tournament, backed by Mikasa and Asics, as part of their buildup for the coming UAAP season. But with its tall frontline made up of Maddie Madayag, Bea de Leon and Kat Tolentino and a gutsy crew of rookie Vanessa Gandler, Ponggay Gaston, Deanna Wong, Julianne Samonte and Dani Ravena, Ateneo emerged as a top title contender.