Creamline, Petro Gazz take tough tests up north

Games today:

(Capital Arena, Ilagan City)

4 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs Chery Tiggo

6:30 p.m. — Galeries Towervs Creamline

Archrivals Creamline and Petro Gazz take on separate rivals Saturday as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference heats up in its first out-of-town stop in Isabela, bringing with it not just the stars of the league, but also a rising wave of unpredictability.

Following a classic encounter last Tuesday that featured high-octane volleyball at its finest, both the Cool Smashers and Angels look to maintain their foothold in the tightly contested Pool B standings, where every match carries heightened significance.

A win for either team tonight will keep them tied at third behind unbeaten squads ZUS Coffee and Akari (2-0).

But in a conference already delivering surprises, nothing is guaranteed.

The Capital Arena in Ilagan City is set to host the first of two scheduled out-of-town games — part of the PVL’s sustained push to bring the game closer to the provinces and ignite grassroots support. And with the competition two weeks into its compact eight-week schedule, the level of play has only intensified, buoyed by what many consider the most competitive batch of imports in tournament history.

Already, four reinforcements have breached the 30-point mark. Others are making immediate impact, while some are still acclimating to the pace and style of the league.

The potential for upsets grows with each game.

After outlasting Petro Gazz in four sets in their last outing, Creamline is riding a surge of momentum. Coco Schwan was brilliant in that win, exploding for 27 points in a performance that underscored her elite scoring abilities and clutch pedigree.

She’ll again lead the charge for the defending champions alongside the ever-reliable Alyssa Valdez and a returning Tots Carlos.

However, Galeries Tower, despite back-to-back losses, cannot be written off. The Highrisers have the tools to make things difficult if they can get a more complete game from import Jelena Cvijovic and locals Jean Asis, Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo, among others. The three combined for just 17 points in their last match — a straight-set defeat to the Thunderbelles — but are capable of much more.

Creamline may be the odds-on favorite, but in a high-stakes, short-format tournament like this, a single off night can open the door for shockers.

Petro Gazz, for its part, is also looking to bounce back after their loss to Creamline. With star import Lindsey Vander Weide, Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete and Ranya Musa forming a formidable core, the Angels remain a title contender.