Flying Titans seek q ‘finals berth
CHOCO Mucho, getting a needed lifeline after Farm Fresh lost to Akari Tuesday night, shoots for the remaining quarterfinal berth against PLDT in a high-stakes match that could determine the future of the Flying Titans’ campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Choco Mucho squandered a nine-point third set lead and eventually bowed to Creamline, 16-25, 19-25, 29-31, Saturday night that pushed coach Dante Alinsunurin’s side on the brink of elimination.
The Flying Titans sit in ninth place with a 2-5 record with seven points, behind the Foxies, who dropped a 19-25, 22-25, 19-25 decision to Chargers to close out their prelimanary round stint with a 3-5 slate with eight points.
A loss in the 3 p.m. match will eliminate Choco Mucho, giving Farm Fresh the No. 8 slot and a rematch with top-ranked Akari in the knockout quarterfinals.
A victory over the High Speed Hitters, regardless of how many sets, will hand the Flying Titans the last quarters berth as they will win the points tiebreaker over the Foxies.
With a joint third-place standing alongside Creamline and Chery Tiggo, PLDT is vying for the No. 3 ranking to face the No. 6 team, which is either Capital1 or PetroGazz, in the quarters.
The Angels hope to lock up the No. 6 ranking against the Crossovers by winning in convincing fashion at 5 p.m. to dislodge the Solar Spikers in the first tiebreaker. PetroGazz has a 4-3 record with 11 points behind Capital1’s 5-3 mark and 13 points.
The Cool Smashers, who are ahead in points with 17 points over the High Speed Hitters’ 16 and the Crossovers’ 15, actually has the most easiest assignment among the three teams fighting for the No. 3 spot.
Creamline hopes to end up the prelims on a high note against winless ZUS Coffee at 5 p.m.
The Thunderbelles hold a 0-7 card and has yet to log a point this conference. A loss will drop ZUS Coffee to last place, as Galeries Tower, which had four five-set defeats, will place 11th as it has four points despite a 0-8 conference.