By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Thursday
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. – Chery Tiggo vs Nxled
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs Cignal
Expect championship-like battles as four of the six remaining teams start their chase for the last two quarterfinal berths in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, March 6, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
In what could be do-or-die matches, Chery Tiggo clashes with Nxled at 4 p.m., while Capital1 collides with Cignal at 6:30 p.m. in the play-in tournament for the six losing teams in the previous round staking outright quarters tickets.
The other two squads are Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee.
In the said play-in phase, the six teams were divided into two pools where they would play a single-round robin series. The two teams will advance to the quarters, joining Creamline, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, PLDT, Akari and Galeries Tower.
The Pool A winner will take on Petro Gazz, while the Pool B top finisher will battle powerhouse Creamline in a best-of-three quarterfinal showdown.
Pool A comprises Cignal, ZUS Coffee and Capital1, while Pool B has Farm Fresh Chery Tiggo and Nxled.
Still reeling from a stunning four-set loss to lower-ranked Galeries Tower for the outright quarters seat, Cignal hopes to recover and regain its old form as Vanie Gandler, Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuña vowed to go all-out for the win.
But Capital1, which bowed to Petro Gazz in straight sets, seeks for that elusive victory as it is expected to parade promising rookie Leila Cruz and Jorelle Singh. The Solar Spikers, however, must step up their game on all fronts as the HD Spikers boasts of two bronze-medal finishes in the All-Filipino.
Likewise, every match is crucial for both Chery Tiggo and Nxled after yielding in straight sets against Choco Mucho and Creamline, respectively.
Ara Galang, Ces Robles, Aby Maraño and Shaya Adorador are expected to to impose their will against the unpredictable Chameleons headed by Chiara Permentilla, EJ Laure and Krich Macaslang.
