The Semifinals of the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference continued on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena. One team inched closer to a Finals berth and another fell on the brink of elimination. Here is a recap of the action:
Creamline Dominates Akari, Stays in Finals Hunt
Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, and Pangs Panaga made sure the Creamline Cool Smashers stayed in the hunt for a seventh straight PVL Finals appearance with a dominant 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 sweep of the Akari Chargers.
Pons fired 17 points on top of 12 excellent digs and 15 receptions, Carlos added 13 points and 10 excellent digs, and Panaga chipped in 13 markers to help Creamline dominate from the get-go. Kyle Negrito, meanwhile, won the high-profile battle of setters, finishing with 24 excellent sets to Michelle Cobb’s 14.
The Cool Smashers, looking to defend their title and add to their 10 championships, encountered some resistance early in the second set, with Akari getting a 13-8 advantage. But Creamline poise showed as it overcame the that deficit and the Chargers’ repeated surges.
Eli Soyud, coming off a career-high 34-point explosion in Akari’s first semis match, was limited to just 11. She didn’t get much support either, with Ivy Lacsina, Faith Nisperos, and Ced Domingo managing just 8, 7, and 6 points, respectively.
With the win, both teams now sport an even 1-1 record in the round-robin semis.
Petro Gazz Tops Choco Mucho, Inches Closer to PVL Finals
The Petro Gazz Angels now have one foot in the Finals after dispatching Choco Mucho, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 27-25.
Brooke Van Sickle came away with 17 points, 22 excellent receptions, and 12 digs for the Angels, who showed remarkable resiliency and composure even after falling behind a set and trailing 21-15 in the fourth set. Myla Pablo added 13 points, including some pivotal hits in the fourth set, while MJ Phillips had 14. Jonah Sabete, Aiza Pontillas, and Ranya Musa combined for 24 more.
On the other side, it was Sisi Rondina doing the damage once more, putting up a match-high 24 points. But only Isa Molde with 12 markers provided additional power, even as Cherry Nunag and Royse Tubino scored 8 and 6, respectively.
The win is Petro Gazz’s third straight after getting stunned by the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles in Game 1 of their Quarterfinals. It moved the Angels to 2-0 in the round-robin semis. Choco Mucho, on the other hand, dropped to 0-2.
2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference: The Semifinals Continue
The 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Semifinals will continue on Thursday, April 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Petro Gazz and Akari face off in the first match, followed by Creamline taking on Choco Mucho in the second match.
