NO CLEAR FAVORITES: PVL Quarterfinals Set for Intense Showdowns

Games today (Saturday)

(Best-of-3 Quarterfinals)

4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs Akari

6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Choco Mucho

It all comes down to preparation, strategy, and composure under pressure.

With teams hungry for a shot at the title, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals promise a battle of resilience and determination.

Unlike previous formats, the Last 8 phase now features four best-of-three series, raising the stakes and making every match a test of endurance and adaptability.

After a grueling single-round elimination, a tense qualifying round, and a dramatic Play-In tournament filled with upsets, no team enters the quarterfinals as a clear favorite. Every squad has proven capable of taking down higher-ranked opponents.

One of the most compelling stories of the quarterfinals is Galeries Tower, which shocked Cignal to clinch a Last 8 spot.

Their reward? A 4 p.m. showdown with Akari, a team with playoff experience and a deep roster eager to impose its dominance.

“We still can’t afford to be complacent. We wanted this, right? We’re up against the top seven. They know that, and we have to prove ourselves. We fought to reach this stage, and we know the next level is really challenging,” said Galeries Tower head coach Lerma Giron in Filipino.

Akari, which survived a five-set thriller against Farm Fresh, is a slight favorite on paper. But the Highrisers have already proven they can dismantle bigger names.

Will Akari’s firepower, led by Grethcel Soltones, Ivy Lacsina, and Faith Nisperos, prove too much? Or will Jewel Encarnacion, Ysa Jimenez, and Julia Coronel keep Galeries Tower’s Cinderella run alive?

Both teams are hungry, so expect fireworks.

The 6:30 p.m. matchup between PLDT and Choco Mucho promises to be a showdown of pure grit.

Both teams boast explosive players who can flip momentum instantly, making this series anything but predictable.

PLDT’s Savi Davison is coming off a career-high 34-point performance, proving she can carry the scoring load. But she won’t do it alone, with Erika Santos, Fiola Ceballos, Majoy Baron, Dell Palomata, and Mika Reyes ready to step up.

“These are reminders for us that we need this. Our losses during the preliminaries against Choco taught us a big lesson, which is why we’ve reached this phase,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort in Filipino.

Choco Mucho, however, is no underdog.

With Sisi Rondina, Isa Molde, Dindin Manabat, Royse Tubino, and Cherry Nunag all capable of taking over, the Flying Titans are more than prepared to go toe-to-toe with PLDT.

The opener of a best-of-three series is often the most crucial.

Win, and you take control.

Lose, and you’re on the ropes.

Neither team will hold back.

The other two quarterfinal series – Creamline vs. Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz vs. ZUS Coffee – begin Tuesday, adding more intrigue to an already thrilling postseason.

No team is safe.

No lead is secure.

No match is predictable.

The PVL quarterfinals are here – and it’s anybody’s game.