Games today:
(Philsports Arena)
4 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs Capital1
6:30 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Chery Tiggo
It’s the turn of Capital1 to shake the foundations of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference when it gets the chance to bring down another heavyweight in Petro Gazz on Saturday as the qualifiers intensify at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Drawing inspiration from Galeries Tower’s shocking victory over third-ranked Cignal, lower-seeded teams are eager to defy expectations, promising an action-packed showdown starting at 4 p.m.
The Solar Spikers will need standout performances from key players Des Clemente-De Guzman, Shola Alvarez, Roma Mae Doromal, Norielle Ipac and Heather Guino-o to stand a chance against the Angels.
Petro Gazz, dominant throughout the preliminaries with a 10-1 record, remains the heavy favorite and is determined not to fall victim to another lesser light.
With a well-balanced attack led by Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, Aiza Pontillas, and Remy Palma, and the strategic guidance of coach Koji Tsuzurabara, the Angels are determined to continue their winning ways.
Meanwhile, the 6:30 p.m. clash between Chery Tiggo and Choco Mucho promises to be a thrilling contest.
In their last encounter, the Flying Titans proved their mettle with a straight-set victory over the Crossovers, setting the stage for an intense rematch in this crucial one-game qualifying round.
Star player Sisi Rondina, who delivered 20 points in their previous meeting, emphasized the need for sustained focus.
“I’m really happy that even when we had moments of relaxation, we were able to bounce back quickly (last game against Choco Mucho). However, that’s something we need to work on — making sure we don’t become complacent.”
Choco Mucho, led by the explosive Rondina, will also rely on consistent contributions from Isa Molde, while veterans Dindin Manabat, Maika Ortiz, Royse Tubino, Cherry Nunag, Lorraine Pecana and Mars Alba provide crucial depth and experience.
On the other hand, Coach Norman Miguel will look to Cess Robles, Ara Galang, Julia Samonte, Mary Rhose Dapol, Seth Rodriquez, Cza Carandang, Pauline Gaston and Shaya Adorador to step up against Choco Mucho’s deep and talented roster.
The winners of today’s matches will join Creamline, which toppled Nxled, and the Highrisers in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the final day of qualifiers on Tuesday will feature a showdown between No. 6 Farm Fresh and No. 7 Akari, while fourth-seeded PLDT takes on ninth-ranked ZUS Coffee.
Teams that fall short today will still have a chance to advance via the play-in tournament.
Group 1 will include the 7th, 10th and 11th-ranked teams, while Group 2 consists of the 8th, 9th and 12th seeds. Both groups will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top teams securing the last two quarterfinal spots.