Creamline showed just how deep it is when it swept through the elimination round even while playing games minus stars Alyssa Valdez and Jia Morado.
So faced with a team they trounced twice on the way to a 16-0 sweep of the preliminary round—whose main star is nursing a foot injury, the Cool Smashers are planing in their battle-tested setter-hitter duo for the opener of their semifinal series against Motolite on Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
Valdez and Morado will plane in from Japan, where they are training with the national team that is preparing for the coming Southeast Asian Games.
“It’s only going to get better from here and we’re ready to welcome them back,” said Creamline opposite hitter Michele Gumabao.
Also starting their own best-of-three semis duel are PetroGazz and BanKo Perlas at 4 p.m.
While Valdez and Morado are certain to boost an already talent-rich squad, Myla Pablo isn’t quite sure how much ready she will be to lead Motolite—at least, physically.
“I’ll give it my best shot even if I’m not 100-percent in shape,” said Pablo, a two-time league MVP.
That means pressure will be heavy on rising stars Tots Carlos and Isa Molde to provide dependable point production for Motolite, which runs on a system that employs low-key players like Ayie Gannaban, Fenela Emnas, Genn Layug and Jessma Ramos.
Much of the semifinal drama will be found in the Angels-Perlas Spikers duel after both teams split their elimination-round showdowns.
Jonah Sabete and Jovielyn Prado will banner PetroGazz, which is aching to prove it has that winning quality in an import-less tournament.
Cherry Nunag, Paneng Mercado, Jeanette Panaga, Cai Baloaloa and setter Relea Saet are also expected to play big roles for the Angels.