Expect Creamline to flaunt its vaunted firepower but Petro Gazz is out to showcase its awesome blocking that helped steer it to another title crack against the most fancied team in the Premier Volleyball League.
But the All Filipino Conference finals firing off Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena will also put into focus two coaches with varying forms and styles.
And while Creamline’s Sherwin Meneses has been into it a number of times, Oliver Almadro of Petro Gazz is on his first stab at PVL glory.
That after he guided the Angels to a convincing 25-17, 25-23, 25-15 victory over the PLDT High Speed Hitters in their sudden death for the right to face the Cool Smashers in the best-of-three series last Thursday, marking Almadro’s first-ever finals trip since he joined the league in 2019 with Choco Mucho.
Prior to this, the former Flying Titans tactician’s highest finish in the PVL was fourth in the 2021 Open Conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte and in the 2022 Open Conference.
Meneses, who is in fifth finals outing, sees a furious clash with the Angels, whom they swept in the elims, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Despite the absence of leader and top-hitter Alyssa Valdez, the Cool Smashers have kept their domination of the field, topping the elims and sweeping the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the semis behind Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Ced Domingo and ace playmaker Jia de Guzman.
But Petro Gazz believes it has the materials to topple the defending champion with veteran Grethcel Soltones enjoying top form after a long while, Aiza Pontillas continuing to provide not just leadership but also clutch hits, Jonah Sabete rising to every challenge, and the duo of Remy Palma and MJ Phillips itching to anchor the team’s net defense again.
Throughout their finals run, Djanel Cheng has also kept the Angels’ offense humming.
