Final Four starts with Creamline, Choco Mucho favored

Creamline Cool Smashers. PLDT MEDIA BUREAU

ILOCOS NORTE—Creamline squares off with Petro Gazz, and Choco Mucho collides with Chery Tiggo as the semifinal round in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference gets off the ground at PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra.

Though the Cool Smashers toppled the Angels in four sets in their only elimination round meeting, Petro Gazz is ready and eager for payback in their 2 p.m. encounter kicking off a pair of best-of-three series.

The Flying Titans-Crossovers matchup starts at 5 p.m.

Coming into the Final Four, Creamline and Petro Gazz closed out their classification schedules in contrasting fashions with the Cool Smashers, shaken and all, rallying past an also-ran but determined Perlas side in five sets to clinch the top seeding at 8-1.

Piece of volley history

The Angels will be coming off a four-set loss to the Flying Titans, which dropped them to No. 4 and this pairing with the powerhouse Cool Smashers.

Being the first to win the country’s inaugural pro league also serves as an added motivation to the four teams, guaranteeing a pair of heated duels for the finals berths and the championship itself.

“We’re always ready and it’s a good thing that coach Tai (Bundit) is back as well as Pangs (Panaga),” said Alyssa Valdez, Creamline’s top offensive weapon who was referring to their Thai mentor and their middle hitter/blocker, who sustained injury against the Flying Titans last Wednesday.

“Our mindset going to the semis is we have to play our game since this is more on mental,” added Valdez.

“Our challenge is all about execution, although there’s also the physical factor,” said Petro Gazz coach Arnold Laniog, who admitted their duel with the Cool Smashers will also be about mental toughness.