Chery Tiggo tests Creamline mettle

Defending champion Creamline measures one of the biggest threats to its reign in streaking Chery Tiggo in a marquee showdown in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Unbeaten in eight games and already secured a spot in the semifinals, the Cool Smashers get a chance to test the mettle of the young Crossovers in their
much-anticipated 6 p.m. encounter to cap the triple-bill feature.

Facing off at 2 p.m. are also-ran squads Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower while Choco Mucho looks to add winless Gerflor to its current eight-game win streak at 4 p.m.

But much of the hype is still focused on Creamline and Chery Tiggo, which is also already through to the semis along with the Flying Titans.

Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses, however, reminds his wards not to get too distracted by the noise of the matchup that many regard as a glimpse of a possible championship match.

"I'm not paying much attention to (the hype). It will still depend on how the players will respond inside the court," Meneses said.

"Our focus is to play point by point, set by set. We'll just play our game, whatever the result we'll accept."

The Cool Smashers, behind their star-studded lineup, are on a tear in the season-ending conference. Creamline is coming off a 25-23, 25-16, 25-21, demolition of expansion team Nxled last Thursday.

The Crossovers, on the other hand, have strung six straight victories including back-to-back five-setters for an 8-1 slate tied with Choco Mucho. Chery Tiggo outlasted veteran team F2 Logistics,
27-25, 11-25, 17-25, 25-22,
15-10, last Saturday to prime up against the Cool Smashers.

"It's everybody's ballgame, I believe we have a chance to beat them. That's our mindset. We really want to beat them, of course," Crossovers assistant coach Kungfu Reyes said.

It will be an interesting clash with Creamline veterans Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, reigning Most Valuable Player Tots Carlos, Michele Gumabao and setter Kyle Negrito taking on up and coming pro stars in Eya Laure, Cess Robles, libero Jen Nierva alongside seasoned players Mylene Paat, EJ Laure and playmaker Jasmine Nabor.

Meanwhile, the Flying Titans are out to boost their chances of landing at a favorable spot in the semis.