Scramble starts for last two PVL Reinforced semis berths

Two powerhouses have been conceded seats to the semifinals, and after nine days of elimination round play, things will definitely heat up when all the others below unbeaten Chery Tiggo and Creamline jockey for the remaining two slots.

Running 1-2 in the nine-team field, the 5-0 Crossovers and the grand slam-seeking Cool Smashers, undefeated in four games, aren’t expected to fumble and not make it past the first round, leaving talented teams like Petro Gazz, F2, Choco Mucho and Cignal battling it out for the right to join them in the semifinals.

And with 1-3 records, PLDT and Akari will be facing very long odds when play resumes on Thursday, with UAI-Army, winless in four games, looking out of it all.

Stranger things can still happen, and with the All Saints Day break, including the games washed out by rains on Saturday, teams will have more than ample time to regroup.

Choco Mucho will try to break a tie with F2 Logistics on Thursday at the league’s home at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City as the Flying Titans battle the Chargers at 5:30 p.m. with Cignal also out to snap a skid and improve its 1-2 card against Army at 2:30 p.m.

A lot of attention is on the explosive Nov. 5 playdate back at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna where first semifinalist Chery Tiggo stakes its unblemished run against an equally unbeaten Creamline in what many see as a preview of the championship.