PLDT, Farm Fresh chase vital wins in PVL semis race
Games Saturday, Nov. 14
PhilSports Arena
1 p.m.: Galeries Tower vs. PLDT
3:30 p.m.: VNS vs. AEP (Spikers’ Turf)
6 p.m.: Capital1 vs. Farm Fresh
PLDT and Farm Fresh will pursue crucial victories on Saturday as six teams compete for the three remaining semifinal berths in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series.
The High Speed Hitters face Galeries Tower at 1 p.m., while the Foxies take on Capital1 at 6 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
VNS and AEP meet in a Spikers’ Turf match at 3:30 p.m.
Nxled is the only team assured of a Final Four place after extending its unbeaten run to six games with a sweep of Akari on Thursday.
The Chameleons are also targeting a top-two finish, which carries a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
Creamline remains second at 4-2, followed in the race by Choco Mucho at 4-3, Farm Fresh at 4-2, PLDT at 3-3, Akari at 3-4 and Capital1 at 2-4.
Choco Mucho’s five-set win over Creamline on Thursday kept the race open with four elimination-round playdates remaining.
PLDT will face a Galeries Tower side that is already out of contention, while Capital1 needs a victory over Farm Fresh to keep its hopes alive.
The Solar Spikers must win their final two matches, including their Nov. 19 encounter with Galeries Tower, to finish at 4-4.
Even with two victories, Capital1 will need favorable results from other contenders to force a tie for a semifinal place.
The league will apply FIVB tiebreaking rules to settle any deadlock.
Capital1 enters Saturday’s match after consecutive straight-set losses, while Farm Fresh is coming off back-to-back five-set wins.
The Solar Spikers will look for stronger performances from Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, along with contributions from their middle blockers and bench.
Farm Fresh will rely on Trisha Tubu, Royse Tubino, Ces Molina, Mylene Rezanova, Riri Meneses and Roselyn Aquino.
“Sobrang thankful ko na unti-unti, sabi nga ni coach sa training, bigyan niyo ng progress every day, kahit one percent lang. Every day, pagsama-samahin niyo ’yon, malaking bagay ’yon. Itong mga past games namin, ’yung progress na ’yon, naiipon nang naiipon,” Tubu said.
“Alam kong kailangan ako ng team kaya bawat set, kailangan talaga magawan ko ng paraan. Lagi kong iniisip na bahala na, basta papaluin ko. Alam kong may tao sa likod ko para mag-cover. Maba-block man ako o made-depensahan, alam kong andiyan na naman ’yung mga kasama ko sa likod. ’Yung mindset na ’yon at ’yung tiwala ko sa kanila na kahit ano’ng mangyari, itataas at itataas nila ’yung bola para sa akin,” she added.
Victories for PLDT and Farm Fresh would strengthen their semifinal bids, although the remaining matches could still change the standings.
Galeries Tower and ZUS Coffee, both at 1-5, are out of contention but can still affect the race against the remaining challengers.
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