THE Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference is set for a thrilling conclusion as the top four teams — unbeaten No. 1 Akari, fourth seed PLDT, No. 2 Cignal, and third-ranked Creamline — gear up for a high-stakes semifinal showdown today, Thursday, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
What makes these Last 4 duels even more intriguing is that the teams have not faced each other during the eliminations, erasing any psychological edge one might have over the other.
With everything on the line, the teams have returned to intense training sessions after dispatching their respective quarterfinal opponents, fully aware that these key matches could define their entire campaign in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Akari and Cignal had the luxury of time to rest and prepare after eliminating Farm Fresh and Capital1 last weekend. In contrast, Creamline and PLDT are still recovering from their grueling quarterfinal victories over Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz, respectively, last Tuesday.
“There will always be a lot of pressure because it’s an all-or-nothing game,” said Akari’s star import Oly Okaro, who led the Chargers’ four-set win over the Foxies, their ninth straight. “Our record doesn’t mean anything because if we lose this game, that’s it. We just want to focus on what we need to do.”
Okaro, along with teammates Grethcel Soltones, Ivy Lacsina, Camille Victoria, Ced Domingo, Ezra Madrigal and setter Kamille Cal, has elevated their game to the next level. As they continue to improve, the pressure also mounts.
“We hope to handle the pressure that keeps building,” said Lacsina, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. “In our team, when we’re under pressure, someone always steps up to remind us that we can do it.”
Soltones stressed the need for a strong start to avoid the late-game scrambling that has plagued their previous matches. “When we’re trailing, there’s a tendency for the team to wait for someone to take over. We need someone to step up right from the first set,” she said.
On the other side, PLDT’s coach Rald Ricafort believes that their success will come down to mental toughness and sheer desire.
“We’re happy to reach the semis, but we only had one day to prepare. We have to be mentally ready,” said Ricafort. “It’s all about focus, patience, extra effort and the desire to win.”
PLDT’s import, Elena Samoilenko, is prepared for a spiking duel with Okaro and understands the importance of maintaining focus throughout the match.
The 6 p.m. match between Creamline and Cignal also promises to be a classic encounter.
