Overtime

CLASH OF THE TITANS: CREAMLINE, CHERY TIGGO COLLIDE

IN A highly-anticipated face-off at the Philsports Arena, Creamline and Chery Tiggo are set to battle it out in a crucial Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference showdown.

28 November 2023

Standings W L
*Creamline 8 0
*Choco Mucho 8 1
*Chery Tiggo 8 1
Cignal 7 3
PetroGazz 6 4
PLDT 5 4
Akari 5 5
F2 Logistics 4 6
Nxled 3 7
Farm Fresh 1 8
Galeries Tower 0 8
Gerflor 0 8
*semifinals

Games today
(Philsports Arena)
2 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs Galeries Tower
4 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Gerflor
6 p.m. – Creamline vs Chery Tiggo

IN A highly-anticipated face-off at the Philsports Arena, Creamline and Chery Tiggo are set to battle it out in a crucial Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference showdown.

The stakes are high, with both teams eyeing a potential encounter in the Final Four or even the season-ending conference finals.

Creamline, currently unbeaten in eight games, is determined to extend their winning streak, while Chery Tiggo, riding a seven-game winning run marked by back-to-back five-set victories, aims to carry their momentum into the semifinals.

The clash promises intense action, as both teams vie for pride in a match where only rankings are left to be determined.

With Choco Mucho securing a spot in the Final Four, the battle for the last spot is heating up among Cignal (7-3), PetroGazz (6-4), and PLDT (5-4).

The HD Spikers have the inside track, with a match against winless Gerflor as their final preliminary round hurdle on Dec. 5.

However, a surprising turn of events could lead to a scramble, especially with the High-Speed Hitters and the Angels poised to face off on the same day.

Despite Creamline’s flawless record, team captain Alyssa Valdez emphasizes the need for continuous hard work, acknowledging areas for improvement.

Michele Gumabao’s consistent performance, alongside contributions from Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, has kept the Cool Smashers at the top of the standings, with Valdez providing leadership on and off the court.

The spotlight will also be on Kyle Negrito and Risa Sato, who stepped into key roles in the absence of Jia de Guzman and Ced Domingo.

As the teams gear up for this marquee matchup, Coach Kungfu Reyes, at the helm of the Crossovers, emphasizes the importance of building the team’s character and maintaining a never-say-die attitude—a crucial mindset for the upcoming pressure-packed semifinals.

Meanwhile, Choco Mucho, which is tied with Chery Tiggo in second place at 8-1, shoots to stretch its winning run to nine, as the Flying Titans take on the Defenders at 4 p.m.

Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsurunin, meanwhile, has shown complete trust in his players, allowing the Flying Titans to stage comebacks without timeouts during their recent matches.

“Sobrang tiwala ako sa lahat ng players ko kaya kahit down kami, never akong nag-time out o i-pressure sila para masabi ko kung ano naging problema,” said Alinsunurin.

It worked as Choco Mucho fought back from 1-2 set down to edge F2 Logistics in the same five-set fashion they toppled Cignal last Nov. 21.

Meanwhile, Farm Fresh and Galeries Towers usher in the triple-bill as they collide at 2 p.m. in a duel of also-ran teams with the Foxies looking to nail their second win in 10 games and the Highrisers going all-out to score the elusive victories after eight losses.