Creamline and Chery Tiggo may hold a slight psychological edge over Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz, but in a cutthroat semifinal phase of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, statistics and past results won’t matter.
For composure will be key as both matches are expected to be nail-biters, with every point crucial in the single-round semifinal phase. Teams have fine-tuned their offense and defense during the weekend break and strengthened communication.
That makes the race to the finals all the more interesting and intense as the Cool Smashers clash with the Flying Titans at 4 p.m. on Tuesday and the Angels collide with the Crossovers at 6 p.m. before an expected overflow crowd at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Coaches are likely to introduce surprise to disrupt opponents’ strategies, relying on their starting units for a strong start while utilizing their bench to keep their starters fresh in prolonged battles.
In their respective buildup to the semis, each team’s strategies and sentiments revealed a mix of determination and focus.
Koji Tsuzurabara, coach of the top-seeded Angels, emphasized a game-by-game approach, urging his team to concentrate solely on the task at hand, ignoring the distractions of rankings.
“I’m not thinking about the rankings, just one game (at a time). We need to concentrate,” he said.
Choco Mucho mentor Dante Alinsunurin, on the other hand, pinpointed service as a critical area for improvement, acknowledging its impact on their recent performances.
“Ilang games na na talagang mababa porsyento naming (sa service). Dun kami nag-focused sa training,” said Alinsunurin.
Despite finishing fourth in the prelims, Creamline, which shut down Choco Mucho last week, remains a strong contender for a third straight AFC title with players like Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza and Alyssa Valdez leading the charge.
Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo, on the other hand, are driven by their hunger for a breakthrough victory in the league organized by Sports Vision.
The absence of key player Kat Tolentino due to an auditory condition continues to pose a challenge for the Flying Titans, but Alinsunurin remains optimistic about their team’s performance, counting on the likes of Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag, Royse Tubino, and Cherry Nunag to provide solid support to the explosive Sisi Rondina.
Petro Gazz, fueled by players like Brooke Van Sickle, Jonah Sabete and MJ Phillips, seeks to claim the elusive All-Filipino crown after winning two Reinforced Conference trophies.
Chery Tiggo, spearheaded by Eya Laure, Ara Galang and Mylene Paat, enters the semis as the hottest team, boasting seven consecutive wins, including a five-set triumph over Petro Gazz. Ready to flaunt their killer’s instinct, the Crossovers aim to secure a spot in the championship series.
“Sa semis, automatic mas mataas yung competitiveness. Lahat ng team, lahat gustong pumasok definitely. Pero kailangan kung sinong pinaka-healthy, yan ang malaki ang chance,” said Reyes. “Kami mga coaches, ready kami. All we need to do is execute every training, adjustment after adjustment.”
With the top two teams advancing to a best-of-three title series starting May 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the stakes are high as teams vie for supremacy in this week’s riveting matches.
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