BY ABBY TORALBA
CAN the local squads hack it?
With the semifinals cast of the PVL Invitational Conference complete, four Philippine clubs get their chances to prove their worth against two foreign guest teams.
Creamline, Cignal, PLDT and Army Black Mamba advanced to the single-round semis where they will face Kobe Shinwa Women’s University of Japan and Taiwan’s Taipei King Whales.
“Siyempre, expected na malakas talaga iyong Japan kasi isa ang sistema nila from youth to national team, iyong Taiwan is talagang wala kaming idea pero base sa country nila, siyempre mataas ang rank nila sa atin,” Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“Pero siyempre maglalaro kami, nagpre-prepare naman kami (against) sa kanila,” he added.
After the final day of the eliminations last Saturday, Creamline topped the standings with a 5-1 card, followed by the High Speed Hitters and HD Spikers who finished second and third with identical 4-2 records.
The Lady Troopers wound up fourth with a 3-3 mark.
Petro Gazz and Choco Mucho ended their campaigns with 2-4 slates, while Chery Tiggo closed its season with 1-5 record.
The Cool Smashers thumped Army Black Mamba 25-20, 22-25, 25-16, while PLDT clinched a semis berth following a 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22 victory over Cignal.
The Angels ousted the Flying Titans with a 28-26, 25-21, 25-16 triumph.
