I WROTE this piece Friday afternoon , a day prior to the much -awaited match between two undefeated teams in the PVL, the very popular Creamline Cool Smashers at 4-0, and pace setters, Chery Tigo, with an even more impressive 5-0 slate.

By the time you read this, there will only be one undefeated squad in the league’s Reinforced Conference.

My gut feel tells me it will be Creamline, the stronger team on paper and in actuality, but then my gut feel has also made me feel bad several times with a wrong prediction.

Though whatever happens in that game, these two teams have practically made it to the next round, truth is, it is guessing who will join them that is the harder question to ask.

Before the conference, without even seeibg the imports in action, I boldly predicted that aside from these two, F2 will also make it with e last slot to be hotly contested by Choco Mucho, Cignal, and PLDT, forgetting to put 2019 champions Petro Gazz into the equation, my mistake.

Now I would say Petro Gazz might even make it to 3rd and not F2, in which case the last slot will be a fight between F2, Cignal, and a disappointing Choco Mucho squad, I already counted out winless Army, Akari Chargers, and PLDT.

For the imports , they have been generally good but not really dominating, in fact there are imports who are secondary chouices for spikes by setters as local players perform better.

This for me is true particularly for Chery Tigo and Creamline.

Mylene Paat has been leading Chery Tigo in scoring, in fact she is the only local to make it to the top ten, with a resurrected EJ Laure supporting her.

Chery Tigo’s Rumanian import Jelena Cvijovic though has been a perfect fit for the team actually as she has accepted her role of being more a defensive than an offensive threat, but can score aby time when needed.

It is the same story for Yeliz Basa, Creamline’s import, who does not compete with Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez, and Jema Galanza in scoring but contributes all around, and look at where these two imports’ team are.

Lindsay Stalzer, whom I interviewed when she first came here to play for Foton has nothing to prove anymore, she is very good, period. In fact she is the main reason why I am picking F2 to make it to the next round.

Choco Mucho is a big disappointment for me, it has a good local line up and import Odina Oliyeva is likewise a good import, but why this tean is not up there, I really do not know. What they have maintained though is a big base of followers, maybe second to Creamline.

…..For PetroGazz, my apologies for my earlier mistake but with a relatively solid and balanced line up, and another good import in Lindsey Vander.

Weid, that Final 4 slot looks like a given to me.

But then anyone can disagree.

LOOSE CHANGE: I was sounded out for a possible radio show to host but with the pressure that goes with it, no, i do not think it will happen….I will join People’s Tonight sports editor Ed Andaya in his podcast next week. We will interview Jean Henri Lhuillier and talk about his Blu Boys….Nice to hear that archery is continuing its come back, national Nino Sinco says events are getting a good number of participants.

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