IMMOVABLE FORCES?: Creamline, Petro Gazz face minnows in PVL quarterfinals

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

4 p.m. — Creamline vs Chery Tiggo

6:30 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs ZUS Coffee

Tournament heavyweights Creamline and Petro Gazz attempt to set their respective title bids in motion with rousing wins when they battle a pair of lesser lights as action in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference quarterfinal round best-of-three gets going Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.

The Cool Smashers, out to defend their championship, battle the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the opener at 4 p.m. In the evening game, the Angels meet the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles at 6:30 p.m.

Fresh off a four-set victory over Farm Fresh in Pool B’s play-in phase, the Crossovers secured the eighth and final quarterfinals spot.

However, veteran spiker Ara Galang knows the real challenge is just beginning.

‘It was really important for us to experience such intense matches.’

“We’re happy to have reached the quarterfinals, but this is just the start. We still have to keep working harder to win more games,” Galang said.

Against the top-seeded Creamline, Chery Tiggo understands that grit alone will not be enough. Galang emphasized the need for improved team chemistry and offensive firepower to counter the Cool Smashers’ imposing frontline.

“We need to develop better team cohesion and refine our game.”

Shaya Adorador, who averaged 16 points across Chery Tiggo’s crucial play-in matches, believes the team’s recent battles have strengthened their resilience.

“It was really important for us to experience such intense matches. We saw in our games against Nxled and Farm Fresh that they were determined to win as well,” Adorador said.

“This also showed us that our team doesn’t back down from tight, back-and-forth rallies. That’s the most crucial thing — we proved we can handle those pressure situations.”

That mental toughness will be crucial as Chery Tiggo faces a dominant Creamline squad that lost just once in the preliminaries — a five-set thriller against PLDT.

In their last meeting, the Cool Smashers dismantled the Crossovers in straight sets, highlighting the challenge ahead for Galang and company.

In the second quarterfinal matchup, debuting playoff contenders ZUS Coffee aim to extend their historic run as they take on second-seed Petro Gazz.

The Thunderbelles not only secured their first-ever quarterfinals appearance with a decisive victory over Capital1 last Thursday, but they also crushed Cignal’s hopes of a backdoor entry in Pool A’s play-in phase.

To pull off an upset against the Angels, ZUS Coffee will rely on the playmaking of setter Cloanne Mondonedo, while Chai Troncoso, Chinnie Arroyo, Jov Gonzaga, and Kate Santiago are expected to deliver on offense.

Meanwhile, Thea Gagate, the first-ever top pick in the PVL Draft, must impose her dominance in the middle. She played a pivotal role in ZUS Coffee’s remarkable All-Filipino Conference campaign, leading the team to its first win, first winning streak, and now its maiden playoff berth.