Creamline, Petro Gazz seek top spot

VOLLEY

With a tightly-contested leaderboard, Creamline and Petro Gazz pulls out all stops to secure favorable positions as they battle separate foes in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Cool Smashers will face newcomer Capital1 at 4 p.m. while the Angels confront a dangerous foe in Chery Tiggo in the 6 p.m. main game of this prestigious women's club tournament.

PLDT's remarkable five-set victory over the previously unbeaten Choco Mucho late Tuesday has created a five-way logjam at the top at 4-1 among PLDT, Choco Mucho, Creamline, Cignal and Petro Gazz, intensifying the significance of every match in the single round-robin eliminations as teams vie for coveted spots in the semifinals round.

With their depth of talent and experience, the Cool Smashers enter their match against the Solar Spikers with added motivation, seeking to rebound from a tough shutout loss to the resurgent Chery Tiggo last weekend in Sta. Rosa, Laguna that snapped a four-game run.

But ranged against a team struggling with a 1-4 record, sideliners believe that Creamline's overall superiority could easily propel it past the Capital1 side.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Petro Gazz-Chery Tiggo showdown with the Angels looking to build on their three-game win run after a five-set defeat to the Flying Titans last 27 February.

But Chery Tiggo, bouncing back from a surprising loss to Farm Fresh, expects to likewise maintain its momentum with a strong performance against Petro Gazz, guaranteeing a slam-bang action between two elite clubs in the country.

Eya Laure, Cza Carandang, Ara Galang, along with Mylene Paat, Aby Maraño and EJ Laure are raring to display the form they showed against the Cool Smashers although the Angels are coming into the match in high spirits — and fresh from a week-long break.

Led by the prolific Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz boasts of a strong supporting cast, including Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, Joy Dacoron, Michelle Morente, Kecelyn Galdones and Nicole Tiamzon.

Former league Most Valuable Player Myla Pablo is also expected to play a significant role for the Angels.