Games today:
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. - Cignal vs Akari
6:30 p.m. - Capital1 vs Farm Fresh
Cignal and Akari are going to set the court in flames when they collide Tuesday as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference action intensifies at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Hostilities begin at 4 p.m.
The HD Spikers, currently tied with sister squad PLDT High Speed Hitters and Choco Mucho Flying Titans at 7-3, look to solidify its grip on their current standing behind league-leading Creamline and Petro Gazz Angels, both with similar 9-1 slates.
The tournament format places heavy importance on ranking points, with the top six teams enjoying a better path in the knockout stage. Winners advance directly to the best-of-three quarterfinals, while losing teams will enter a play-in tournament for the last two quarterfinal slots.
Riding back-to-back wins against Capital1 and ZUS Coffee, the HD Spikers remain a formidable force despite the departure of key players.
The squad is led by Vanie Gandler, rookie standout Ishie Lalongisip, Jacqueline Acuña, Roselyn Doria-Aquino, and ace setter Gel Cayuna.
“Our mindset in the last game was that we needed to win to gain an advantage in the preliminary rankings,” Lalongisip said in Filipino, who became the first rookie to win the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week award two weeks ago.
“We will go back to training and focus on working hard because, in the end, it is us players who must execute what our coach instructs.”
Akari (5-5) finds itself in a tight battle for positioning, sharing the number six spot with Chery Tiggo. After a four-set defeat to Choco Mucho, the Chargers are determined to regain their footing.
Head coach Taka Minowa will be looking for standout performances from Faith Nisperos, Ivy Lacsina, Eli Soyud, Fifi Sharma, Erika Raagas, Kamille Cal and Camille Victoria to improve their seeding ahead of the next round.
Meanwhile, Farm Fresh (4-6) aims to end its preliminary round on a high note as it faces the struggling Capital1 (1-9) in the next game at 6:30 p.m.
The Foxies, led by Trisha Tubu, Caitlin Viray, Aly Bertolano and Jolina dela Cruz, are in a position to finish with a respectable record and build momentum heading into the next phase of the competition.
The Solar Spikers, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to climb out of the bottom of the standings, where they are tied with Nxled at 1-9.
“Every day, every practice, every game is a learning process for us,” said multi-titled Capital1 head coach Roger Gorayeb.
With their confidence needing a boost, Gorayeb will rely on experienced players like Shola Alvarez, Des Clemente-De Guzman, Trisha Genesis, Jorelle Singh, Rovena Instrella, Patty Orendain and Leila Cruz to put up a strong fight and carry some positive energy into the play-in tournament.