Creamline, Choco Mucho kick off semifinal drives

VOLLEY

Forget about the numbers, it's all about the confidence and momentum gained from remarkable streaks in the eliminations.

Coming off a remarkable 11-game sweep, Creamline faces Chery Tiggo at 4 p.m. while Choco Mucho, with a stirring 10-game run, squares off with Cignal at 6 p.m. in a pair of best-of-three series kicking off the semifinal round of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today.

Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses highlights the goal to exceed their performance in the eliminations while focusing on hard work.

"The goal is way beyond eliminations so we need to work hard," said Meneses, who expects Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Michele Gumabao to crank up their respective games as they try to extend their unbeaten run.

He also rested skipper Alyssa Valdez against the Galeries Highrisers last Tuesday for optimal performance in the Final Four.

"Priority is for Aly (Valdez) to rest for the semis so that she will have a good performance," said Meneses, whose wards dismantled the Crossovers in four sets last 26 November.

While Creamline is on a streak, Chery Tiggo is on a skid, having dropped its last two matches, including a shutout loss to the soaring Choco Mucho in Iloilo last weekend.

But deputy coach Kungfu Reyes is motivated to bring out the best from the team as they aim for another shot at the finals in the season-ending conference.

Rookie Eya Laure has been consistent with her double-digit outputs but the other players need to step up, including Ces Robles, Mylene Paat, EJ Laure, Cza Carandang, Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorador.

The Crossovers won eight of their first nine games in the eliminations but lost steam at the finish and wound up No. 4, sealing a duel with the Cool Smashers, whom they, however, beat to emerge as the league's first pro champions in the Open Conference in bubble setup in Ilocos Norte two years ago.

Like Creamline, Choco Mucho toppled Cignal in their eliminations face-off, scoring a three-set romp last 26 October that helped anchor their amazing 10-game run following a four-set defeat to the defending champions on opening day.