The PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals begin: Akari Chargers vs PLDT High Speed Hitters; Cignal HD Spikers vs Creamline Cool Smashers. –INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS/MARLO CUETO
August 31, Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena
- 2:30pm – PLDT High Speed Hitters vs Akari Chargers
- 4:30pm – Creamline Cool Smashers vs Cignal HD Spikers
MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The last four teams left standing in the PVL Reinforced Conference will come in fresher than usual when the semifinals are finally played on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena, where top-ranked Akari and crowd favorite Creamline will be trying to hold off teams that could forge a sister act for the title.
With its formidable trio of import
Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina, Akari takes a nine-game winning streak against PLDT in the 2:30 p.m. encounter, with the Chargers, as they should, recognizing that having a perfect record doesn’t mean anything in a do-or-die match.
These games were supposed to have been played last Thursday, only for a power outage at PhilSports Arena moving even the title match two days forward.
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
With the PVL postponing the semifinal matches of its Reinforced Conference on Thursday because of a power outage at the venue, the four teams supposed to see action in two do-or-die games have effectively gained a couple of more days to live.
And whether that works in the favor of one side that has been on a very hot streak or give two other teams the chance to cool their heels further and plan better are questions that can only be answered when the Final Four is finally played on Saturday.
The unexpected break could serve PLDT and Creamline well, after they had qualified for the semifinals only on Tuesday. That would have been a very short turnaround before playing Akari and Cignal, respectively.
Creamline Cool Smashers against Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Creamline doesn’t simply adhere to the knockout format of the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals—the Cool Smashers thrive in it.
“We told each other it’s a do-or-do [game], so we’re not gonna die,” Bernadeth Pons said after ending the reign of two-time champion Petro Gazz late on Tuesday night with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory, sealing a semifinal encounter with Cignal set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at PhilSports Arena.
Cignal was the first squad to book a ticket to the semifinals, after bucking Marina Tushova’s record 50-point outing for Capital1 last Saturday.
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