Creamline faces PetroGazz and BanKo-Perlas collides with Ateneo-Motolite Wednesday in what promises to be an explosive Final Four of the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Though the Cool Smashers and the Perlas Spikers seem to have gained the momentum at the end of the double-round elims, the Angels and the Lady Eagles have the materials to foil their powerhouse rivals in their respective best-of-three series.
Creamline actually split its two-game elims series with PetroGazz but its 3-0 thumping of the Angels last week to clinch the top seeding makes the Cool Smashers the slight favorites in their 4 p.m. showdown with the No. 4 squad.
“We have to be confident because I think that’s one of the keys (to winning),” said Creamline star and leading MVP candidate Alyssas Valdez, whose 20-hit norm in the elims helped put the team on track for a second championship after the Cool Smashers ruled the Reinforced Conference last July.
But PetroGazz coach Jerry Yee is expected to have drawn up counter plays to neutralize Valdez’ power along with those of Michelle Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Risa Saso and Pau Soriano. He is also tipped to have firmed up the Angels’ offense anchored on Paneng Mercado, Cherry Nuñag, Alyssa Layug, Jonah Sabete and Jessey de Leon.
The 6 p.m. clash between BanKo-Perlas and Ateneo-Motolite is also seen to go down-to-the-wire, notwithstanding the Perlas Spikers’ sweep of the Lady Eagles in emphatic fashions in the elims.
With the exuberance of Ateneo’s triple tower made up of Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag plus the gutsy plays of rookie Vanessa Gandler, Ponggay Gaston, Deanna Wong and Dani Ravena, the Lady Eagles are more than ready to redeem themselves against their veteran rivals, led by former Ateneo stars Dzi Gervacio and Amy Ahomiro, former UP stalwarts Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola along with Joy Dacoron, Amanda Villanueva and Sue Roces.
Games can be viewed live via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com/