BY ABBY TORALBA
EXPECTED to prove their worth, four teams duke it out as the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals begin today at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Set to open the single-round semifinals are the top-ranked Creamline Cool Smashers and defending champions Petro Gazz Angels at 2:30 p.m.
Cignal faces Chery Tiggo in the other match at 5:30.
The Cool Smashers finished the eliminations with a 6-1 record following a four-set triumph over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, 28-26 seven days ago.
“Madami pang dapat (i-improve) pero siyempre ang pinaka-importante iyong familiarization na trini-training namin kasi actually iyong semis naman talagang pressure game iyan. Iyon iyong number one na dapat na labanan mo,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said.
“So, marami pang kulang so talagang pa-practisin muna namin,” he added.
The Angels closed the elims with a 5-3 mark and are in a slump after losing to F2 16-25, 22-25, 25-27 last Thursday.
Skipper Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Ced Domingo, Jeanette Panaga, Jia De Guzman and Turkish import Yeliz Basa are expected to lead the Cool Smashers.
Petro Gazz will be unfazed and aims to defang its foes behind American reinforcement Lindsey Vander Weide, Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, MJ Phillips, Remy Palma, and Djanel Cheng.
The HD Spikers finished the elims with a victory over Choco Mucho 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-14 and finished with a 5-3 card last Tuesday.
“Must win talaga every game,” Cignal tactician Shaq Delos Santos said heading into the playoffs. “Ibigay lang namin iyong best namin. Ayaw naming tumingin doon sa goal na kailangan talunin agad or whatsoever, basta magpe-prepare lang kami.”
Chery Tiggo reached the semis after escaping past PLDT High Speed Hitter 25-20, 18-25, 22-25, 25-16, 18-16 and ended the elims with a 6-2 card last week.
American import Tai Bierria and locals Ces Molina, Glaudine Troncoso, Ria Meneses, Roselyn Doria, and Gel Cayuna of the HD Spikers look to upset Petro Gazz but the Angels will rely on Montenegrin foreign guest player Jelena Cvijovic, skipper Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Cza Carandang, Roselle Baliton and Jasmine Nabor.
