By Kristel Satumbaga
Games Today
(Batangas City Coliseum)
2 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs PetroGazz
Presentation of Individual Awards
4 p.m. – Creamline vs Ateneo-Motolite
Creamline star Alyssa Valdez hopes to fulfill a long-time dream of winning a championship in front of her provincemates when the Cool Smashers eye a sweep of the championship against the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles today in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Match is at 4 p.m. with Valdez and the Cool Smashers determined to take advantage of the expected crowd support to wrap up their best-of-three title series.
“Not only I’ll play inspired, but I think it’s also one way of giving back to Batangas,” said Valdez, who hails from San Juan.
Creamline needed only 67 minutes to beat Ateneo-Motolite in Game 1, 25-17, 25-10, 25-15, on Wednesday.
Veteran setter Jia Morado was responsible for the variety of plays, distributing the ball well to frustrate Ateneo-Motolite’s net defenders.
“By involving all our spikers, we make our offense a lot more unpredictable,” said Morado, who produced 23 excellent sets that helped draw 14 hits from Valdez, 12 markers from Michelle Gumabao and a combined 17-hit game from Jema Galanza and Risa Sato.
But Ateneo-Motolite is undaunted with coach Oliver Almadro looking to get more from Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, and Bea De Leon.
“My players will really do their best and they will never, ever give up,” said Almadro, adding that he hopes his players will play a relaxed game this time after a tight Game 1 showing.
Meanwhile, BanKo-Perlas seeks a third-place finish in its 2 p.m. confrontation with PetroGazz.
Individual awards will be presented before Game 2 of the finals.
