GAMES TOMORROW
(PhilSports Arena)
1:30 p.m. – Kobe Shinwa University vs. Zus Coffee
4 p.m. – PLDT vs. Cignal
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs. Chery Tiggo
CREAMLINE opened its title-retention campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational on a high note yesterday by scoring a hard-earned 22-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-11, 15-8 victory over Cignal at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Despite a short turnaround from the league’s preseason On Tour meet that ended last Sunday, the Cool Smashers showed up with fire in their eyes, with veteran opposite spiker Michele Gumabao starring for the team with a double-double outing of 22 points on 18 attacks and four blocks, along with 15 excellent digs.
Skipper Alyssa Valdez also sizzled with a triple-double performance of 11 points, 14 excellent receptions and 12 digs while outside spiker Jema Galanza had 18 markers and 17 excellent receptions in the two-hour and 21-minute duel.
The two squads recently met in the battle for third in the On Tour six days ago, with Creamline prevailing for the bronze medal.
“Yung sa On Tour kasi na-sweep din kami [ng Cignal] noong first round ng elimination and then naka-bawi kami. Kasi ibang-iba na iyong mga games, talagang magkakakilala na. Sa tingin ko, iyon and naging advantage naming, iyong experience din ng team,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said.
Open spiker Heather Guino-o led Cignal with 21 points, 12 digs and seven excellent receptions while On Tour MVP Erika Santos added 11 markers in the losing effort.
Action continues this Saturday at the same venue. Creamline meets Chery Tiggo Crossovers while Cignal battles On Tour titlists PLDT High Speed Hitters.
Meanwhile, the league has made a last-minute change to its six-team lineup for the two-week Invitational after the Kurashiki Ablaze from Japan withdrew due to an internal issue involving their head coach.
Kurashiki, the 2023 PVL Invitational champion, pulled out of the tournament after a serious compliance violation allegedly committed by head coach Hideo Suzuki.
“We regret to inform you that we received a notice from the Japan Volleyball League indicating that our head coach, Hideo Suzuki, may have committed a serious compliance violation,” said Daisuke Watanabe, Representative Director of Ablaze Co. Ltd., in an official statement.
“In response to this notification, our team has decided to immediately commence an internal investigation and suspend all activities until the details of the incident are fully clarified,” he added.
“It is with great regret that we must inform you of our decision to withdraw from participating in the PVL Invitational. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this sudden decision, made so close to the start of the tournament, may cause to all parties involved,” Watanabe further said.
With Kurashiki officially out, the PVL has tapped the fifth-placed team from the PVL on Tour to complete the tournament lineup.
An invitation was initially sent to Farm Fresh team owner Frank Lao, but he opted to field the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles instead, citing that the Foxies are still not ready and are short of a full training roster.
The Thunderbelles, who finished sixth in the On Tour games, will now join the Invitational field.
