PVL chairman Tony Boy Liao, competition director Sherwin Malonzo, FVP/head, Channel Management and Programming Sienna Olaso, and Rissa Guilas, head, Channel Management and Programming pose with the team captains of the 12 teams seeing action in the Second PVL All-Filipino Conference. PVL photo
Wide open race seen in PVL
WITH Jia de Guzman now plying her craft with the Japan V. League club Denso Airybees, Creamline is bracing for a tough challenge in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference which opens on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With Kyle Negrito as the lead playmaker, the Cool Smasher remain confident about their chances of a repeat of the first conference (also All-Filipino) feat.
“Siyempre yung preparation naman, hindi gaanong kabilis. Pero we try naman na mapunan yung best na maiiwan ni Jia, especially si Kyle as a setter. I think hindi masyadong magkaka-problema,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
De Guzman’s leadership will be sorely missed, but Alyssa Valdez is upbeat that Negrito will be up to the task.
“We always been training naman with Kyle during practices for the longest time also. She has been with the Creamline Cool Smashers for a while and she has been representing our country as well. She has been mentored since si Jia naman ang naging teammate niya. May mga natutunan at mga sine-share si Jia sa kanya,” said Valdez.
A record field of 12 teams will compete in a season-ending tournament, and Creamline is working hard to elevate its level of play several notches higher.
“Definitely, with the new teams and mga veteran teams sa PVL, we are very much excited actually. We are excited this conference to see kung ano ang mga improvements namin as a team,” said Valdez.
“We are taking one step at a time. We are preparing each game. And who knows? Bilog ang bola. Definitely it is a harder challenge. Siguro mas mataas ang stairs na kailangan naming akyatin.
Hopefully, we will give them a good fight this conference,” the league’s biggest star added.
This early, the Cool Smashers will be facing a major test.
Creamline will take on sister club Choco Mucho, which made a lot of noise during the conference break with a podium finish in Vietnam’s VTV tournament, at 7 p.m.
“I’m very very excited. Hopefully with the system being integrated by coach Dante (Alinsunurin), we will be able to translate to better results this time around,” said Flying Titans captain Bea de Leon.
A revamped Gerflor and newcomer Nxled kick off hostilities at 3 p.m. with each side ready and eager to showcase their worth and at the same time build confidence and momentum for the tough grind ahead.
Sister teams Cignal and PLDT slug it out next at 5 p.m.
