By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Thursday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
4 p.m. – Cignal vs Chery Tiggo
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs Choco Mucho
Cignal and Chery Tiggo gun for a share of the lead when they clash on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Buoyed by their opening-game victories, the HD Spikers and the Crossovers are expected to come out strong in their 4 p.m. tussle as they intend to join the PLDT High Speed Hitters and the Akari Chargers at the helm.
Cignal displayed its might when it swept Farm Fresh, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21, behind the leadership of skipper Ces Molina and the impressive efforts of Jovelyn Fernandez. The two combined for 25 points in that affair.
But the HD Spikers needed to double their efforts as they face the fancied Crossovers, who are coming off a week-long respite after surviving the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 15-11.
Out to provide firepower for Chery Tiggo are the veteran hands of Ara Galang, who erupted for 23 points against Capital1, as well as Cess Robles and Shaya Adorador.
Expect Galang to deliver on the defensive end anew along with Seth Rodriguez after the duo conspired for seven of the team’s 15 blocks the last time.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho aims for a second straight win in three starts when it clashes with Capital1 in the 6 p.m. nightcap.
The Flying Titans survived the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12, to soothe the pain from a four-set opening-game loss to the Petro Gazz Angels.
The Solar Spikers, for their part, seek to bounce back from that defeat against Chery Tiggo to crawl out of the bottom standings.
Rookie Leila Cruz, who exploded for 20 points the last time, is slated to fuel Capital1 anew along with veterans Patty Orendain and Heather Guino-o, who had 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Seasoned setter Iris Tolenada is also expected to lead the Solar Spikers, hoping to maximize their spikers in destroying the Flying Titans’ solid defense where they managed 22 blocks — seven each from Kat Tolentino and Lorraine Pecana — the last time.
