Games today:

(FilOil EcoOil Centre)

4 p.m. — Nxled vs PLDT

6:30 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs ZUS Coffee

PLDT looks to lock the No. 1 seed in the qualifying round when it takes on Nxled to end the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference preliminary phase today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Already secured of a top four finish in the opening salvo of the season-ending competition, the High Speed Hitters seek to extend their four-game winning streak and build momentum heading into the easier but still precarious route into the semifinals.

Opening serve is at 4 p.m. followed by the play-in round-bound teams Choco Mucho and cellar-dweller ZUS Coffee at 6:30 p.m.

PLDT has been on a roll since suffering a straight sets loss to sister team Cignal last month and sits on solo top spot with a 7-1 win-loss record.

Another victory for the Rald Ricafort-mentored team will assure the High Speed Hitters of the top seeding in the qualifying stage against the fourth-seeded squad in a showdown for one of the first two Final Four tickets up for grabs.

The two-time champion club downed Choco Mucho, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-19, last Saturday to extend its winning streak behind the 19-point explosion of Savi Davison and 17 markers of Kim Kianna Dy.

Despite having the momentum on their side, the High Speed Hitters remain wary of the Chameleons, who have ended a four-game slide and are desperate to finish the prelims on a winning note for a chance to enter the qualifying round.

“Of course, momentum-wise we want to continue our streak and we can’t be complacent just because it’s our last game and we’re already through to the qualifying round,” Ricafort said.

Composed of the core of last year’s champion Petro Gazz, which decided to take a leave of absence, Nxled defeated ZUS Coffee, 20-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19, last week to get back on the winning track for a 4-4 slate tied with Farm Fresh in fifth to sixth spot.

“We have to keep on working hard, regardless. There is the possibility that we could meet them (Chameleons) again in the playoffs. So, this will definitely be a tough game since most of their players are from Petro Gazz, and we’re really struggling against them. Hopefully, we’ll get the win this time,” Ricafort said.

The Chameleons, despite a dip following a 3-0 start, remain very dangerous with the likes of three-time Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle, former MVP Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips and Jonah Sabete-Escamillan leading the way.

Nxled needs a win by straight sets or four sets, and for Creamline (5-3) and streaking Akari (5-3) to drop their final outings for a possible top four finish.

“Yeah, I mean, again, it’s unpredictable. I think, yeah, we dug ourselves into a hole, you know, a path going into the top four,” Van Sickle said.

“So, it’s definitely gonna be a battle even if we were to, you know, get that win against PLDT. It’s still unpredictable where everyone’s gonna sit in the standings.”

Meanwhile, the Flying Titans are eyeing a recovery from a back-to-back slide heading into the Play-in stage, where each game is a do-or-die match.

Choco Mucho sports a 3-5 mark in seventh to eighth, tied with Capital1.

The Thunderbelles, on the other hand, have lost in their last five games for a dismal 1-7 record.