BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR
AT A GLANCE
Capital1 and Chery Tiggo try to draw inspiration from the stunning performance of Galeries Tower when they gun for quarterfinal berths on Saturday, March 1, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Capital1 and Chery Tiggo try to draw inspiration from the stunning performance of Galeries Tower when they gun for quarterfinal berths on Saturday, March 1, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The 11th seeded Solar Spikers shoot for the stars in their 4 p.m. confrontation with the second-ranked Angels, even as the No. 8 Crossovers collide with the No. 5 Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m.
The race for the quarters seats have been unpredictable following the stunning four-set victory of 10th seed Galeries Tower against No. 3 Cignal last Thursday, Feb. 27. The Highrisers, who placed near the bottom standings in all their appearances since their inception to the league in 2023, automatically booked a Final 8 seat along with the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers, who routed the Nxled Chameleons to advance.
Capital1’s preliminary meeting against Petro Gazz was forgettable, though, as it got beaten black and blue, 25-19, 25-18, 25-9, last Feb. 11. But Solar Spikers coach Roger Gorayeb firmly believes in his stalwarts’ capabilities to write a different narrative this time.
Out to spearhead the Milka and Mandy Romero-owned crew are Heather Guino-o, Des Clemente, Trisha Genesis and rising rookie Leila Cruz, with setter Iris Tolenada also expected to fuel the squad.
But hurdling a talent-laden Petro Gazz would be like facing Goliath as the Angels boast of a formidable hard-hitting trio in Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Myla Pablo.
Like Capital1, Chery Tiggo seeks to defy odds as it also plans to avenge its 25-18, 25-23, 26-24 prelims loss to Choco Mucho just last Feb. 22.
The Crossovers boast of an arsenal anchored on veteran Ara Galang, with Cess Robles and Shaya Adorador expected to provide reinforcements.
Choco Mucho, however, hopes it would not suffer the same fate as Cignal as a loss would relegate them to the round-robin losers’ bracket for the two quarters tickets.
Sisi Rondina remains a big threat from the 2024 All-Filipino bridesmaids, with Isa Molde, Dindin Manabat and Cherry Nunag also at the core of their attack.
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