MANILA, Philippines – On Thursday night, in front of an anticipated sellout crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, sister clubs Choco Mucho and Creamline—ferocious league rivals—will square off again after a four-month break. The match is a pivotal match in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

Though there’s no championship up for grabs in their eagerly awaited 6 p.m. encounter, there will be important ramifications for the semifinals, especially for the 8-1 Flying Titans, who are vying for both the first semi-final slot and the top spot in the post-elimination phase.

To qualify for the first semifinal, Choco Mucho, which is composed of Sisi Rondina, Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag, Royse Tubino, Regine Arocha, Cherry Nunag, and Maika Ortiz, must win three or four sets.

However, in the league’s opening conference, the Sports Vision-organized Cool Smashers are determined to secure the victory that will support their own semi final push.

With a 7-2 record, Creamline is tied with Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, and PLDT; however, the Angels and Crossovers will virtually have the advantage as they have played two games against eliminated teams.

On April 25, the Flying Titans will be followed by a virtual knockout match between the Cool Smashers and the High Speed Hitters for the final spot.

Apart from a showdown over firepower, as Creamline and Choco Mucho have adequate arsenal to drag each other into the heart of the semifinals conflict. With both teams having skilled middles who can be threats on both the offensive and defensive ends, blocking will also be crucial.

The floor defense of both teams has shown to be just as successful as their attack during the tournament, with an emphasis on covering.

Creamline possesses unmatched expertise and composure to pivotal fights such as these, having won seven titles. Choco Mucho, on the other hand, is desperate for atonement after Creamline easily defeated it in its first title defense in December.

The Flying Titans, however, appear to have the upper hand going into today’s game considering their recent success and ranking. Even though they defeated the Nxled Chameleons in a shutout, the Cool Smashers are still in shock from losing to them in five sets.

Rondina is expected to continue inspiring her teammates with her high-scoring, reliable play, as demonstrated by her frequent double-digit outputs.

But Kat Tolentino’s absence owing to an aural ailment could be a problem for Choco Mucho. Coach Dante Alinsunurin, nevertheless, is upbeat about his team’s prospects and emphasizes the significance of being ready to play Creamline.

Meanwhile, Sherwin Meneses, the counterpart, is unfazed by Choco Mucho’s danger and is assured of the cohesiveness and strengths of his team. The reigning champions are ready for another victory with Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, Pangs Panaga, Bea de Leon, Risa Sato, Lorie Bernardo, Michele Gumabao, and Bernadeth Pons.

Strength Group and Farm Fresh are entangled in the 4 p.m. starting game, with the Athletics trying to secure the elusive win in ten games and the Foxies aiming for their third victory in ten.
Live broadcasts of the games are available on One Sports for free-to-air, One Sports+ for high definition, the Pilipinas Live app, and the official PVL website, pvl.ph. RPTV, a new free-to-air channel, is part of the worldwide package.

In the face of semis uncertainty, Aby Marano emphasizes concentration.

In addition to electrifying supporters, Chery Tiggo’s crushing straight-sets victory over PLDT intensified the competition for the coveted semi final positions.

With their most recent victory, Chery Tiggo has overtaken formidable teams Petro Gazz, Creamline, and High Speed Hitters to move into a four-way tie for second position. With a combined record of 7-2, all four clubs are quite close to the 8-1 record of the lone leader, Choco Mucho.

Aby Maraño, the team leader, highlighted the significance of maintaining concentration on their individual strategy despite the capricious nature of the tournament. “We don’t dwell on things beyond our control. We stay grounded and trust our coach’s guidance. Our goal is simple: win every game,” he said.

Reiterating Maraño’s thoughts, star player Eya Laure emphasized the team’s laser focus on what they can control.