FINISHING FLURRY: PLDT favored; Akari-Farm Fresh duel could go either way

PLDT looks poised to formally enter the quarterfinal stage of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference but such isn’t the case for Farm Fresh and Akari.

When action heats up Tuesday at the Philsports Arena, PLDT should have no problems disposing of ZUS Coffee in the main game at 6:30 p.m.

But the 4 p.m. clash between Akari and Farm fresh could go down the wire as the search for berths to the next stage becomes more difficult.

Riding high after a dominant sweep of the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in their recent preliminary matchup in Iloilo, the fourth-seeded High Speed Hitters are expected to secure another convincing victory although they can’t afford to lower their guards.

The Thunderbelles, though ranked below, are drooling over the prospects of an upset.

But the limelight will be on the encounter between the Foxies and the Chargers as they are evenly matched.

Four teams — defending champion and top seed Creamline, No. 2 Petro Gazz, No. 5 Choco Mucho, and surprise No. 10 Galeries Tower — have already punched their tickets to the quarterfinals. PLDT and ZUS Coffee, along with Farm Fresh and Akari, are now vying for the two remaining automatic spots.

The last two quarterfinal berths will be contested in the play-in tournament, where six teams — Cignal, Nxled, Capital1 and Chery Tiggo, along with the losers of today’s matches — will battle for survival in a single-round eliminator starting Thursday.

With a decisive 25-20, 25-16, 25-16 victory over ZUS Coffee last 22 February, PLDT is heavily favored to repeat its dominance. However, the Thunderbelles are hungry for redemption and will draw inspiration from the Highrisers’ shocking upset of the third-seeded Cignal HD Spikers last week.

“Maybe just avoiding complacency because that’s really our goal — to reach the finals,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort on what they need to avoid against the Thunderbelles.

For ZUS Coffee to pull off the improbable, veterans Chai Troncoso and Jovelyn Gonzaga, along with young guns Thea Gagate, Michelle Gamit, Kate Santiago, Gayle Pascual and Chinnie Arroyo, must deliver their best performances.

More importantly, they must find a way to contain PLDT’s powerful offensive arsenal, spearheaded by Savi Davison, Fiola Ceballos, Dell Palomata, Majoy Baron, Erika Santos and Mika Reyes.

Failure to slow down PLDT’s relentless attack will all but ensure the High Speed Hitters’ passage into the best-of-three quarterfinals.

The Farm Fresh-Akari matchup promises to be a nail-biter.

The Foxies swept the Chargers in their preliminary-round encounter last 30 November but Akari remains a dangerous opponent.

“I think there were games where we didn’t have Jolina (Dela Cruz), and we didn’t have Rachel (Daquis). Now, little by little, and then hopefully... going into the qualifying round, we’ll be complete. So if we’re complete, I think the team’s performance will change, because we’ve seen some advantages of the team, the team’s strengths are showing, so it will be different,” said Farm Fresh mentor Benson Bocboc, confident in his team’s chances when healthy.

Having finished as runners-up in last year’s Reinforced Conference, the Chargers have the experience and composure needed in high-stakes elimination matches.

Adding intrigue to the matchup is the expected return of Akari’s star spiker Grethcel Soltones, who battled a hand strain midway through the prelims.

She will be joined by key teammates Ivy Lacsina, Faith Nisperos, Ced Domingo, Erika Raagas, Camille Victoria and Fifi Sharma — all ready to assert their dominance in a bid for an outright quarterfinal spot.

On the other hand, Farm Fresh is equally determined to reaffirm its superiority.

Trisha Tubu, who led the Foxies in their previous victory over Akari, is expected to spearhead their attack alongside Jolina dela Cruz, Caitlin Viray, Aly Bertolano, Louie Romero, Maicah Larroza, Rizza Cruz, Lorene Toring and the ageless Rachel Ann Daquis.