By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. – Gerflor vs Nxled
5 p.m. – PLDT vs Cignal
7 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Creamline
Six teams, headed by crowd-favorites Creamline and Choco Mucho, open their respective title bids on Sunday, Oct. 15, when the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference fires off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cool Smashers and the Flying Titans clash in the featured match at 7 p.m. in whar is expected to go the distance with both teams boasting of seasoned players – not to mention having intact lines-up.
Gerflor and Nxled kicked off the hostilities at 3 p.m. while PLDT and Cignal tangle at 5 p.m. as part of the tripleheader.
For Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, winning the first match is crucial.
“Mas iniintindi namin ang first game kasi team check namin yun,” said Meneses.
“Yung kalaban kasi, kahit sino naman, lumalaban talaga. Yung first game napaka-importante sa team kasi dito namin makikita kung nag-improve yung skills at yung buong team,” he added.
The Cool Smashers are also gauging their chemistry now that they are playing without ace cetter Jia De Guzman, who is now with the Denso Airybees in Japan’s V.League.
But Meneses is confident Kyle Negrito can fill the void left by De Guzman, knowing that she jells well with her teammates in Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao, to name a few.
For Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin, facing Creamline in their first game is a big challenge.
“May konting pressure kasi defending champion yan,” Alinsunurin said of the Cool Smashers. “Pero sabi ko nga sa mga players ko, medyo malayo na ang narrating namin. Basta continue lang kung ano yung mga dapat gawin at adjustment sa laro.”
Alinsunurin pins his hopes on Sisi Rondina to join forces with Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, Bea De Leon and Des Cheng.
In other matchups, PLDT is banking on new recruit in Fil-Canadian hitter Savannah Davison to conspire with Mika Reyes, Mich Morente and Dell Palomata against an equally strong Cignal crew headed by last conference’s MVP Ces Molina, Chin Basas, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Rachel Anne Daquis.
The Gerflor-Nxled duel is also a match to watch with both teams out to prove their mettle.
Alyssa Bertolano and Ethan Arce and Pia Sarmiento banner the Defenders’ campaign with Ivy Perez and Justine Dorog providing the veteran smarts while the Chameleons will be led by Krich Macaslang, Jho Maraguinot, Lycha Ebon, Camille Kal, Janine Navarro, Chiara Permentilla, Camilla Victoria and Dani Ravena.
