RESULTS: 2024 PVL Reinforced semis August 31

By: 2 weeks ago
The PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals begin: Akari Chargers vs PLDT High Speed Hitters; Cignal HD Spikers vs Creamline Cool Smashers.

The PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals begin: Akari Chargers vs PLDT High Speed Hitters; Cignal HD Spikers vs Creamline Cool Smashers. –INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS/MARLO CUETO

2024 PVL Reinforced semifinals schedule

August 31, Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena

2:30pm – PLDT High Speed Hitters vs Akari Chargers

4:30pm – Creamline Cool Smashers vs Cignal HD Spikers

PVL: PLDT to file protest over controversial semis loss to Akari

Akari and PLDT coaches Taka Minowa and Rald Ricafort during the PVL Reinforced Semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT is set to file a protest over uncontroversial unsuccessful net fault challenge in its knockout semifinals loss to Akari in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

coach Rald Ricafort told Inquirer Sports that High Speed Hitters are filing a protest with the league after their semifinals loss that was marred by a controversial play where they challenged for a net fault on the Akari’s Ezra Madrigal that could’ve awarded the High Speed Hitters the winning point.

The officials ruled against PLDT’s challenge, letting the Chargers force a deuce at 14-all and eventually complete a come-from-behind win for a breakthrough PVL Finals stint with a 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15.

PVL: Creamline survives Cignal to book Reinforced final ticket

Creamline Cool Smashers celebrate a point against Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines–Creamline returned to the PVL Reinforced Conference Finals after turning the tables on Cignal, 20-25, 26-28, 25-18, 27-25, 15-13, on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Erica Staunton willed the Cool Smashers with a career-high 38 points, 36 from attacks, to arrange an all-or-nothing championship bout with first-time finalist Akari on Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It was a total team effort. Even though Erica [Staunton] scored 38 points, the contribution from our team was solid,” coach Sherwin Meneses said. “We’ll enjoy this win a little, but we still have one more game to focus on.”

PVL: Grethcel Soltones stays locked for Akari amid bashing

Akari Chargers’ star Grethcel Soltones in the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals game against PLDT High Speed Hitters. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Love her or hate her, but Grethcel Soltones said she won’t stop her from giving her all every time she plays inside the court.

Soltones’ “Dahil??? HAHAHA” post on X put her on the receiving end of bashing from the volleyball fans who assumed that she was taking a shot at the PVL’s decision to postpone the supposed semifinal games on Thursday due to power outage at Philsports Arena and rescheduled it on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Soltones, who remained locked in for Akari amid the social media storm, helped complete their come-from-behind 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15 win to enter the PVL final for the first time in the Reinforced Conference.

LIVE UPDATES: Creamline Cool Smashers vs Cignal HD Spikers (semis)

PVL explains no net fault in controversial Akari-PLDT endgame

Majoy Baron and the PLDT High Speed Hitters bench during a crucial stretch in the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals match against Akari Chargers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The end game between Akari and PLDT’s knockout semifinal match in the PVL Reinforced Conference was marred by a controversial call in the decisive fifth set as the High Speed Hitters’ call for a net fault was ruled unsuccessful.

Holding on at match point, 14-13, PLDT called for a video challenge calling for a net touch on the Akari’s Ezra Madrigal that could’ve awarded the High Speed Hitters the winning point.

But the officials ruled against the challenge, letting the Chargers force a deuce at 14-all and eventually complete a come-from-behind win for a breakthrough PVL Finals stint.

PVL: Akari ousts PLDT in controversial finish to advance to final

Oly Okaro and the Akari Chargers celebrate their PVL Reinforced semifinals win over PLDT High Speed Hitters. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Akari secured a first-ever finals appearance after surviving PLDT, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Oly Okaro paved the way for the Chargers with her best scoring output of 39 points from 35 attacks and four blocks as Akari extended its blistering winning streak to 10.

“I just tried to stay composed as much as possible because we’ve obviously been there many times before, in the fifth set. So maybe that was actually our blessing this time because we knew what to do in this kind of situation,” Okaro said.

PVL Commissioner on PLDT’s unsuccessful video challenge

LIVE UPDATES: PLDT High Speed Hitters vs Akari Chargers (semis)

PVL semis: Akari streak, Creamline winning tradition on the line

MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The last four teams left standing in the PVL Reinforced Conference will come in fresher than usual when the semifinals are finally played on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena, where top-ranked Akari and crowd favorite Creamline will be trying to hold off teams that could forge a sister act for the title.

With its formidable trio of import

Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina, Akari takes a nine-game winning streak against PLDT in the 2:30 p.m. encounter, with the Chargers, as they should, recognizing that having a perfect record doesn’t mean anything in a do-or-die match.

These games were supposed to have been played last Thursday, only for a power outage at PhilSports Arena moving even the title match two days forward.

Unexpected break could work both ways for PVL semifinalists

Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses during the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

With the PVL postponing the semifinal matches of its Reinforced Conference on Thursday because of a power outage at the venue, the four teams supposed to see action in two do-or-die games have effectively gained a couple of more days to live.

And whether that works in the favor of one side that has been on a very hot streak or give two other teams the chance to cool their heels further and plan better are questions that can only be answered when the Final Four is finally played on Saturday.

The unexpected break could serve PLDT and Creamline well, after they had qualified for the semifinals only on Tuesday. That would have been a very short turnaround before playing Akari and Cignal, respectively.

PVL: Creamline’s quest for elusive crown now runs into Cignal

Creamline Cool Smashers against Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Creamline doesn’t simply adhere to the knockout format of the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals—the Cool Smashers thrive in it.

“We told each other it’s a do-or-do [game], so we’re not gonna die,” Bernadeth Pons said after ending the reign of two-time champion Petro Gazz late on Tuesday night with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory, sealing a semifinal encounter with Cignal set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at PhilSports Arena.

Cignal was the first squad to book a ticket to the semifinals, after bucking Marina Tushova’s record 50-point outing for Capital1 last Saturday.

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