By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Saturday
(Philsports Arena)
3 p.m. – Akari vs Choco Mucho
7 p.m. – Creamline vs Petro Gazz
It all boils down to one match to finally settle on who will be emerge “the queen” of the 2025 All-Filipino Conference in the Premier Volleyball League.
Creamline and Petro Gazz duke it all out for one last time on Saturday, April 12, in the winner-take-all championship battle before an expected huge crowd at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Match is at 7 p.m. with momentum definitely on the side now of the Cool Smashers following their 25-15, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9 Game 2 victory that kept their title-retention bid alive in this best-of-three finals series.
Prior to the anticipated nail-biting thriller, Choco Mucho and Akari clash at 3 p.m. in their own rubber match for the bronze medal. The Flying Titans likewise extended their own series after bouncing back from a Game 1 loss with a 25-18, 25-22, 27-29, 25-19 win in Game 2 last Thursday, April 10.
For sure, it’s going to be another blockbuster as Creamline is out to claim a record five straight and 11th overall while Petro Gazz will be seeking its first All-Filipino title and third overall.
The scenario was very familiar for both teams, especially for the Angels.
In their title series in 2023, Creamline also dropped the opener but recovered mightily to snare the next two matches for the championship trophy.
While the Cool Smashers wanted to replicate that feat, the Angels aim to write a different narrative.
Creamline showed the heart of the champion in that Game 2 victory, finding ways to weaken the Petro Gazz offense led by Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo.
There were stumbles along the way, including that fourth-set loss that could have closed out the match early, but the Cool Smashers were not one to dwell on those situations easily.
“Masaya kami, pero hindi pa tapos,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza are expected to lead Creamline’s assault after scoring in double figures the last time, with the troika of Michele Gumabao, Alyssa Valdez and Bea De Leon ready to provide the additional firepower
“Hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi namin nade-defend yung title namin,” added Pons.
But the Angels are not the one to give up that easily, too.
Still haunted by that finals heartbreak two years ago, Petro Gazz is determined to regain its bearings and finish what it started with Van Sickle, Phillips and Pablo declaring an all-out war.
Same thing for Jonah Sabete and Joy Dacoron while veteran setter Chie Saet out to double her efforts in activating the team’s spikers.
