Three more teams made their PVL All-Filipino Conference debut on Saturday as the action shifted to the Ynares Center in Antipolo—Creamline Cool Smashers, Cignal HD Spikers, and Farm Fresh Foxies.
The league’s fourth game day also featured an early season matchup between two teams widely considered as contenders for the PVL All-Filipino Conference crown in Creamline and the Petro Gazz Angels.
Cignal Imposes Will on Farm Fresh for Debut Win
The Cignal HD Spikers got a winning debut on Saturday with a dominant 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Fresh from two runner-up finishes, the HD Spikers looked primed for a breakthrough in their PVL All-Filipino Conference debut, completely dismantling the young Foxies behind 25 combined points from veterans Ces Molina (14 points) and Jovelyn Fernandez (11 points). Setter Gel Cayuna was her usual superb self, finishing with 16 excellent hits on top of 5 hits.
Sophomore Trisha Tubu, who finished with 15 points, was the lone bright spot for the Foxies, who missed the services of the comebacking Rachel Anne Daquis and veteran libero Jheck Dionela.
Cignal’s straight-sets victory was the first this PVL All-Filipino Conference following four four-setters and two five-setters in the league’s first three game days.
The HID Spikers next play the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday, November 21, at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan. The Foxies will shoot for their first win against the Petro Gazz Angels next Saturday, November 23, at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Creamline Sends Early Message with Dominant Debut
The Creamline Cool Smashers served notice to the rest of the PVL right in their very first game: They are the team to beat.
To hammer home that point, the Cool Smashers dismantled the Petro Gazz Angels, 25-19, 25-22, 25-16, handily, even ending the match on a scintillating 15-3 run.
Fan favorite Jema Galanza led the balanced Creamline attack with 13 points, while the returning Alyssa Valdez added 4 points and lots of inspiration for a team looking to win yet another title.
Bea de Leon and Lorie Bernardo typified Creamline’s dominance over Petro Gazz, patrolling the net and neutralizing Angels ace Brooke Van Sickle, who could only muster 18 points after exploding for 34 on opening day.
The Cool Smashers, who are still without former MVP Tots Carlos, will headline the PVL’s Candon City double-header on November 23 opposite the Akari Chargers. The Angels will try to bounce back in the curtain riser when they take on the Foxies.
More Action in Antipolo
The PVL All-Filipino Conference continues on Tuesday with another double-header at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Zus Thunderbelles will take on the Nxled Chameleons in the first match, while the PLDT High-Speed Hitters shoot for their second win against the Galeries Towers Highrisers in the main game.
