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.
“Actually, I still don’t know [what we will do against the HD Spikers],” was what coach Sherwin Meneses said after advancing to the semis with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory over Petro Gazz on Tuesday night.
He now has two more days, which could work both ways for Akari on the other half of the semifinals against the High Speed Hitters, since the Chargers are hot on a nine-game winning streak and would have obviously loved to play a fatigued squad in PLDT as early as they could.
“The [previous] schedule is more of a mental game as we only had one day of preparation,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said also Tuesday night. “We told the players that as long as we are ready mentally … it will show in the game. Hopefully we get to recover before the semis and have fresher minds again.”
With the rescheduled matches, the league has also moved the Finals between the winners of the respective do-or-die semifinal matchups to Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Staunton’s target
Creamline Cool Smashers’ Erica Staunton during the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
And that is a day that Creamline import Erica Staunton wants to see in just her first overseas stint.
“Just making sure that we’re preparing enough because we know we’re gonna have a tough game [in the semis] and then just fighting to get to [the Finals],” Staunton said. “Just one day at a time, one practice at a time. Overall, extremely excited and I feel very blessed to be here with experienced champions. So I’m very lucky.”
Creamline is shooting to win this tournament for the first time since 2018 and add to its collection of eight championships. And this one could be the sweetest for the franchise as the Cool Smashers have gotten the job done even without the injured Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, who is tied to national team duties.