Daily Tribune‘We’re preparing well against them. ZUS made good recruitment during the offseason. They now have a balanced team. You cannot take them lightly.’
Jema Galanza (right) and Kyle Negro aim to help the Creamline Cool Smashers come up with a strong finishing kick to 2024 when they battle Zus Coffee in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL
Games today:
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. — Creamline vs ZUS Coffee
6:30 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Farm Fresh
Unbeaten defending champion Creamline guns for a perfect ending to its successful year when it collides with ZUS Coffee for a share of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Shooting for a fourth straight win, the Cool Smashers battle the Thunderbelles at 4 p.m. in the curtain-raiser before the Choco Mucho and Farm Fresh tussle at 6:30 p.m.
Creamline’s depth and firepower have keyed in the team’s hot start in its bid for a five-peat in the all-local tournament, stringing dominating wins over Petro Gazz, Akari and Choco Mucho.
Veterans Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Bea de Leon and Bernadeth Pons showed the way in the Cool Smashers’ crushing of sister team Flying Titans, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, last week.
Creamline, which manages the playing minutes of stars Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos in the six-month season-opening conference, currently sits at solo second spot behind solo leader Cignal (4-0).
Although favored to win over a rival that is just in its second season in the PVL, Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses remains wary of ZUS Coffee.
“We’re preparing well against them. ZUS made good recruitment during the offseason. They now have a balanced team. You cannot take them lightly,” he said.
Meneses wants to cap 2024 on a high note after completing a historic grand slam this year winning the All-Filipino, Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
“We want to be ready for the last game of the year. We want to head into the holiday break with a good win.”
The Thunderbelles seek to get back on the winning track after having their two-game win streak snapped by sister club Foxies, 24-26, 25-13, 21-25, 19-25, last week.
Top overall rookie pick Thea Gagate and veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chai Trongcoso and Chinnie Arroyo are determined to give the Cool Smasher a run for their money.
ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh are tied with 2-2 slates.
Meanwhile, the Foxies gun for a third straight win while the Flying Titans want a rebound win to improve their 2-3 card.
Farm Fresh’s lethal trio of young guns Trisha Tubu, Rizza Cruz and Alyssa Bertolano will be tested against Choco Mucho’s Alas Pilipinas standouts Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag, Kat Tolentino and Isa Molde.
