PLDT, ZUS Coffee fight for survival

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

4 p.m. — Cignal vs Akari

6:30 p.m. — ZUS Coffee vs PLDT

All eyes will be on unbeaten PLDT when it faces underdog ZUS Coffee in a do-or-die quarterfinal encounter of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.

Opening serve is set at 6:30 p.m. with the High Speed Hitters favored after steamrolling through the competition, winning all five of their matches in the preliminaries in which they dropped only a single set.

Facing them stand the Thunderbelles, whose path to the quarterfinals has been anything but smooth. Regularly pushed to the brink, they’ve gone the full route five times and emerged victorious in four of those grueling five-setters, including a dramatic come-from-behind win against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans just last Tuesday after falling two sets behind.

Meanwhile, Cignal, which secured the No. 2 seed in the Last Eight phase, takes on Akari at 4 p.m., armed with a well-rested and recalibrated lineup eager to launch a strong semifinal push.

The Chargers, coming off a dominant victory over the depleted Petro Gazz Angels, banked on the impressive playmaking of rookie setter Bea Bonafe and a powerful frontline led by Ivy Lacsina, Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones.

The trio combined for a dynamic offensive thrust that overwhelmed the defending All-Filipino Conference champions, also last Tuesday.

The HD Spikers, on the other hand, swept their first three matches in pool play before bouncing back from a loss with a victory over the Thunderbelles to advance directly to the quarters.

That early qualification gave Cignal the luxury of rest and preparation — crucial advantages in a knockout stage where consistency, chemistry and mental fortitude will define the contenders.

Coach Shaq delos Santos has artfully integrated seasoned campaigners with fresh talent to build a deep and dangerous squad

Key acquisition Erika Santos has been a revelation, quickly adapting to delos Santos’ system and delivering standout performances — highlighted by her 30-point outburst against the Thunderbelles.