CREAMLINE braces for a challenging showdown against Cignal today in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena.

Expect an intense battle between powerhouse teams aiming to strengthen their semifinal aspirations as they enter the crucial phase of the single round preliminaries where every match holds significant importance.

The Cool Smashers and the HD Spikers take the floor at 6 p.m. to wrap up a three-match bill before the league takes a pause for the Lenten holidays.

At 5-1, Creamline is tied with Choco Mucho and PLDT at the top with the defending champions targeting the solo spot with a victory.

But Cignal, alone at fourth with a 4-1 slate, is also out to score another win and force a three-way tie for the lead.

PetroGazz, eager to bounce back from a previous defeat, faces Capital1 in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.

Chery Tiggo, coming off back-to-back big wins that kept itself within the top four range, plays Nxled at 4 p.m.

The Angels and the Crossovers have similar 4-2 records.

As both teams enter the midpoint of their campaigns, the Solar Spikers (1-5) and the Chameleons (1-4) must start piling up victories if they want to stay in the semifinals race.

Tots Carlos acknowledged the club’s commitment to coach Sherwin Meneses’ system, recognizing their brief deviation during their loss to Chery Tiggo last March 16.

“We went back to basics in training. Coach emphasized our system, which we momentarily lost sight of,” Carlos said.

The HD Spikers are hoping to be consistent on both on offense and in defense to prevail against the Cool Smashers.

Creamline is fresh from a 25-18, 25-14, 25-15 conquest of Capital1, while Cignal hopes to follow up its 25-7, 25-16, 25-16 win over Strong Group Athletics.