PVL ALL-FILIPINO CONFERENCE: Cool Smashers, Angels Eye Key Wins

Games Today (Saturday)
Ynares Center, Antipolo
4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs. Petro Gazz
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs. Creamline

Creamline takes its first of two crucial steps toward a potential preliminary round sweep—and the coveted No. 1 seed—as it faces PLDT today (Saturday). Meanwhile, Petro Gazz looks to solidify its No. 2 ranking in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

While the Cool Smashers are expected to dominate their final elimination match against the struggling Galeries Tower Highrisers on Feb. 20, their 6:30 p.m. clash with the High Speed Hitters presents a real challenge. The defending champions will need to bring their A-game to keep their unbeaten streak alive.

Fans at Ynares Center anticipate an intense battle between two of the league’s top contenders. However, Creamline enters as the favorite, boasting a star-studded lineup, championship experience, and an unblemished record.

PLDT, coming off a dominant win over Farm Fresh on Feb. 4, is eager to pull off an upset. Head coach Rald Ricafort is counting on another standout performance from Savi Davison, whose 26-point explosion against the Foxies proved game-changing.

To have a chance, local standouts like Mika Reyes, Erika Santos, Majoy Baron, and Fiola Ceballos must step up and deliver consistent performances in this high-stakes matchup.

“The key is how we respond to high-pressure games. Some of our losses came in those situations, so hopefully, we can apply what we’ve learned. It’s really about trust and believing that the team can do it,” Ricafort said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Creamline remains laser-focused on completing a perfect preliminary round in the league’s record-setting six-month season. Since sweeping Akari in the 2024 Reinforced Finals and dominating the Invitational Conference to clinch the league’s first Grand Slam, the Cool Smashers have been unstoppable.

Head coach Sherwin Meneses faces the challenge of managing minutes for his deep roster, with key contributions expected from Bernadeth Pons, Jema Galanza, Bea de Leon, Tots Carlos, Alyssa Valdez, and Michele Gumabao.

“Our game against Farm Fresh wasn’t as convincing as it should have been, but at least we showed that even in tight situations, we can still close it out. Hopefully, we can do the same against PLDT,” Galanza said in Filipino, recalling their 27-25 third-set win against the Foxies last Tuesday.

In the middle, Pangs Panaga and Lorie Bernardo are set to control the net, while Kyle Negrito orchestrates the offense. Defensively, Kyla Atienza and Denden Revilla will be crucial in anchoring the backline.

Petro Gazz Looks to Extend Streak

In the 4 p.m. opener, the red-hot Petro Gazz Angels aim to extend their seven-game winning streak against the struggling Highrisers. With a deep roster featuring Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, Jonah Sabete, Remy Palma, and Joy Dacoron, the Angels are heavily favored. A win would improve their record to 9-1, setting them up for their final preliminary round test against the Nxled Chameleons.

Nxled, which came close to back-to-back wins before falling short in a five-set thriller against Choco Mucho last Tuesday, will once again rely on Chiara Permentilla, EJ Laure, Lycha Ebon, May Luna, and rising rookie Lucille Atienza as they aim to finish strong in the tournament.

The PVL All-Filipino Conference is supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar, and Mikasa.

Games are aired live on Pilipinas Live, RPTV, One Sports, One Sports+, and pvl.ph.