Game today:

(Philsports Arena)

6 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Cignal

The last remaining finals berth will be at stake when Choco Mucho and Cignal collide in a sudden-death duel in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Game time is at 6 p.m. with the Flying Titans and HD Spikers looking for a victory that will send them to a breakthrough finals appearance against powerhouse Creamline.

The Cool Smashers gained the ticket to their sixth straight final appearance after sweeping Chery Tiggo in the other semifinal pairing. Game 1 of the
best-of-three finals starts on Thursday.

The Flying Titans will enter the battle with a surge of momentum, having rebounded from a Game 1 mishap with a straight-set victory in Game 2 over the weekend.

But the HD Spikers have displayed unwavering fighting spirit by overcoming a 0-2 set deficit in the series' opener, seizing a remarkable win that halted their rivals' 10-game run in the eliminations of the season-ending conference.

Both the Flying Titans and the HD Spikers are hungry for a finals breakthrough.

Choco Mucho's best finish in seven previous league stints was two fourth-place finishes while Cignal has placed no higher than third in six PVL conferences.

Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin recognizes the pivotal need for both rest and rigorous preparation, stressing the importance of addressing issues and implementing necessary adjustments ahead of the sudden death.

"We had some problems in Game 1. I told them that we're just being tested after we won 10 straight matches. I think we were just too confident," Alinsunurin said.

"We lacked hunger at that time so I told the team to work hard again so that we'll have good results in Games 2 and 3."

As they gear up for the decisive match, Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina and Kat Tolentino expect to lead the team's surge the way they did in Game 2 with Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag and Cherry Nunag out to provide the needed support and middle Bea de Leon ready to shine after riding the bench the last time out.

"Of course, we'll always go back to the confidence that Coach Dante had given us. We will just trust his game plan. We stayed committed to this team and to each other that's why we not have a Game 3. We need to go all out," said Rondina, who fired 19 points in Game 1 and exploded for 23 points in the next.

Tolentino added that Cignal will not just roll over and die.

"I think for me we have to humble ourselves again, we have to start from the beginning. We'll celebrate but we have to prepare again (for Game 3) because Cignal will come back with even more fire," said Tolentino, who scored 31 points in the first two games of the series.

"I think the team that's complacent will always be at a disadvantage and I think that's what happened (in Game 1). We have to keep that fire alive and just continue to be humble with our skills and go back to coach Dante's system."

The former Ateneo de Manila University stalwart said reaching the finals would definitely be one of her career highlights.

"It's a big accomplishment especially in the pros and I've been with this team since the beginning so it will definitely be such a memorable accomplishment if it happens," Tolentino added.

But Cignal remains resolute, aiming to elevate their net and floor defense to neutralize the Flying Titans' vaunted offense.

Vanie Gandler is also raring to bounce back from a paltry five-point output in Game 2 after a commanding 17-point showing in the first game. Ces Molina, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Riri Meneses and Roselyn Doria are also set to showcase their experience and skills in an attempt to counter-balance their opponent's firepower.