By NIKOLE JAVIER
For the second time straight time, defending champion Creamline is set to face a visiting foreign team in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference finals.
Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze secured the right to face the crowd-favorite after turning back PLDT, 25-15, 23-25, 25-14, 25-23, on Thursday night, July 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Kurashiki nearly squandered an eight-point lead in the fourth set, but managed to hang on to prevail and tie Creamline’s 4-0 record.
That made their 6:30 p.m. showdown Friday a preview of the championship.
But expect the Japanese and the Cool Smashers to still go all-out for the confidence and the mental push needed in a one-game final for the gold medal on Sunday.
For the fourth straight time, it was Tamaru Asaka, who delivered the game-winning performance after dropping 30 points highlighted by 28 attacks and two blocks.
Tanabe Saki Hiraoka Akane joined hands for 26 points to help Asaka to clinch the finals berth.
Royse Tubino, for her part, paced the High Speed Hitters with an equally powerful performance of 23 points on 21 kills while Mae Ceballos addee 15 points of her own.
The High Speed Hitters slid 2-3 in the standings, leaving their podium hopes in the balance depending on the outcome of the remaining semis fixtures.
In the next play, Cignal beat the other foreign club team in Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh, 25-13, 25-15, 25-20, and stayed in contention for third.
Ces Molina powered the HD Spikers with 19 points on 16 attacks, one block and two service aces to finished the carryover standings with a 2-3 win-loss record.
Huong Nguyen and Xuan Le paced the Vietnamese team with 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing cause as they remain on the losing column.
