DEFENDING champion Creamline and PetroGazz renew their rivalry in a vital encounter that could either propel or hinder their semifinal aspirations in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

All tickets for the Saturday tripleheader at the Santa Rosa Multipurpose Sports Complex, especially for the 6 p.m. clash between the Cool Smashers and the Angels, have already been snapped up, anticipating an exciting showdowj between the league’s traditional powers.

Creamline is currently tied with PLDT and Choco Mucho, which is facing Capital1 at 4 p.m., on top of the standings at 6-1.

Sporting a 5-2 record, PetroGazz sits in joint fourth with Cignal and Chery Tiggo.

A victory would secure the Cool Smashers the top spot or a share of the lead, edging them closer to another semifinal appearance, but against the Angels, expect coach Sherwin Meneses’ side to grind it out.

Facing a Solar Spikers crew who have only a win to show in seven matches, expect the Flying Titans to play with a lot of intensity in pursuit of a seventh win.

All eyes on PetroGazz on how to contain Creamline’s Tots Carlos, who is coming off a smashing performance the last time out and anticipate how setter Kyle Negrito will make adjustments in case the three-time PVL MVP gets neutralized.

Carlos fired a new all-time local scoring record of 38 points in the Cool Smashers’ narrow 26-28, 22-25, 25-22, 24-21, 16-14 victory over the HD Spikers last March 26.

The Angels remain a formidable opponent with Fil-Am Brook Van Sickle blending well with the rest of the team and integrating into Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara’s system.

PetroGazz is coming off a 25-11, 25-19, 25-14 win over Capital1 last March 26.

The two clubs had figured in four championships with Creamline winning three of them.

The Cool Smashers will also be motivated to rebound from a tough 18-25, 24-26, 23-25 loss to the Crossovers last March 16, also at the same Santa Rosa arena that ended a long 19-match winning streak.

In the 2 p.m. curtain raiser, Akari and Galeries Tower, with identical 2-5 cards, clash as the two teams try to keep their slim semis hopes alive.