Sudden-death Thursday

Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4 p.m. — Akari vs Petro Gazz

6:30 p.m. — ZUS Coffee vs PLDT

Four remain, but only two will be left standing to duke it out for the crown after the smoke of the knockout 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference semifinals today settles at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Petro Gazz is beaming with high morale when it marches into war to face inspired Akari in the curtain-raiser at 4 p.m. while PLDT, looking for a third straight finals appearance this season, squares off against a ZUS Coffee side seeking a breakthrough championship appearance at 6:30 p.m.

The Angels got an extra boost to reclaim the title they lost last year by dethroning Creamline in an emphatic, 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14, victory last Monday behind the heroics of veteran Myla Pablo and Brooke Van Sickle after import Linsey Vander Weide tweaked her left ankle.

“We need to make some adjustments in our game on Thursday against Akari. Of course, hopefully, Lindsey will be okay by then,” said Pablo, who dropped a personal conference-best 26 points last game.

“Hopefully, we could sustain the momentum of our win (against Creamline) in our next game against Akari. We have to stick with our teamwork and trust in our coaches.”

The reigning All-Filipino Conference champion braces for a dogfight, especially with the Chargers raring to return in the finals and settle an unfinished business after a runner-up finish last year.

Petro Gazz knows its rival won’t go down without a fight, especially after it barely escaped in its first-round preliminary meeting that went the full five sets.

Seeded eighth, Akari’s experience and composure prevailed over the top-seed yet raw Farm Fresh, scoring a shocking 28-26, 30-28, 25-21 win.

American Annie Mitchem, Eli Soyud, Grethcel Sotones and Fifi Sharma anchor the Chargers’ assault.

“But still, we have to focus on the goal. We’ll continue working hard and put on the same mindset as in the last game, that we won’t allow this to be the last training day for Akari (this season),” Akari coach Tina Salak said.

The High Speed Hitters, on the other hand, are clinging to their advantage in experience, having won back-to-back titles with conquests of the inaugural On Tour and the Invitational.

“I guess we could consider it a blessing that we have already experienced what it’s like playing in knockout games from the last two conferences. In a way we have an edge on the mental side,” PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort said following his wards’ 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, triumph over sister team Cignal in the quarters.

Ricafort, who will be banking on Savi Davison, Majoy Baron, Kim Kianna Dy and Russian Anastasija Bavykina, however, is not taking the Thunderbelles lightly.

“ZUS has a dominating import, so we definitely have to be ready. We have to put on a mindset that we’re going through a difficult path in our next game,” he said.

No. 2 seed ZUS Coffee took down Capital1, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, for its first-ever Final Four appearance since joining the league in 2024.

American Anna DeBeer, veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chinnie Arroyo, libero Alyssa Eroa and playmaker Cloanne Mondoñedo as well as rookies AC Miner and Riza Nogales have been showing consistent stellar performances for the Thunderbelles throughout the conference.

They will have to do it once again to write more history.

“It’s going to be tough no matter who the opponent is,” DeBeer said.