Creamline hopes to continue its winning ways in the PVL All-Filipino Conference behind Jema Galanza. PVL photo
Creamline, PetroGazz stake winning streaks
DEFENDING champion Creamline and PetroGazz stake their winning streaks as the Premier Volleyball League powerhouses play dangerous foes today at the Philsports Arena.
The Cool Smashers, who won all the league championships at stake last year, look to extend their perfect run to five matches in a showdown against Capital1 at 4 p.m.
Coming off a four-game winning streak before the holiday break, the Angels aim to pick up where they left off as they tangle with Chery Tiggo at 6:30 p.m.
Despite the controversial departure of its main starters Ces Molina and Riri Meneses, Cignal hopes to move on and stay within distance of Creamline and PetroGazz as it clashes with unpredictable Galeries Tower in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Cool Smashers are the lone undefeated team in the conference with a 4-0 record, while the Angels and the HD Spikers are not far behind with 5-1 and 4-1 slates, respectively.
Creamline looks formidable with Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao and Jema Galanza delivering on both ends on the floor, Alyssa Valdez’s valuable leadership and Kyle Negrito’s playmaking.
Ranged against the Cool Smashers, the struggling Solar Spikers (1-4) need to unleash their A-game if they want to pull off the biggest reversal of the New Year.
Rookie Leila Cruz is leading Capital1’s scoring while Heather Guino-o is rediscovering her old offensive form. Setter Iris Tolenada’s orchestrating of plays will be the Solar Spikers’ main key to victory.
PetroGazz is brimming with confidence as it hacked out a dominant sweep of ertswhile unbeaten Cignal last Dec. 14.
Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo have been solid offensively for the Angels, while libero Blove Barbon, who currently leads in the receiving department, is a revelation so far this conference.
The Crossovers have strengthened their roster with the addition of middle blocker Risa Sato.
Joining a stacked frontline of Pauline Gaston and Aby Maraño, Sato will bring a wealth of experience from her previous stint with Creamline that is expected to bolster the Chery Tiggo’s campaign.
Chery Tiggo, which is currently tied with PLDT at 4-2, hopes that the long break will boost its capabilities to contend.
“Each player was tasked with maintaining their strength and conditioning routines individually during the break,” said coach Norman Miguel of the Crossovers.
“To ensure accountability, they submitted video updates to our strength and conditioning coaches for monitoring.”
The Angels are now down to a 12-woman roster following the departures of Molina and Meneses, which the Highrisers hope to capitalize to improve their 1-5 standing.
Vanie Gandler will carry the heavy load of Cignal’s offense as coach Shaq delos Santos will now dig deep on who will fill the huge void left by Molina.
