PVL: Cool Smashers go for sweep
Games Wednesday (MOA Arena)
10 a.m. – PLDT vs Vice Co (men’s – for third)
1:45 p.m. – Pocari-Air Force vs BanKo-Perlas (women’s – for 3rd)
3:45 p.m. – Creamline vs PayMaya (women’s – for crown)
6 p.m. – Cignal vs Air Force (men’s – for crown)
Creamline braces for a big PayMaya bounce back but readies itself for a big bash as the Cool Smashers gun for a sweep and the coveted Premier Volleyball League crown before another expected huge crowd at the MOA Arena in Pasay.
The Cool Smashers go all-out for the clincher at 3:45 p.m., so confident of duplicating their 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory in the opener of their best-of-three series for the PVL Season 2 Reinforced Conference diadem last Sunday with a kind of grit and teamwork they have shown from the elims to the finals.
In fact, top player Alyssa Valdez is all set to steer the team to victory again and claim the title that has eluded them after a couple of third place finishes in last year’s inaugurals of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“We all wanted to win, hindi lang naman ako,” said Valdez. “More than ever, it’s everyone who wanted this win, who wanted to win the championship that’s why maganda ang teamwork namin.”
So upbeat is the former Ateneo star that she also considers playing at the MOA Arena brings good vibes not only to her but also to the organization she represents.
“It’s always good to be back at the place where you won your first-ever championship,” said Valdez, who powered Ateneo to its first crown against then thrice-to-beat La Salle in Season 76 of the UAAP and in the Lady Eagles’ record sweep of Season 77 at the Pasay arena.
With Thai reinforcement Kuttika Kaewpin complementing well with Valdez on the attacking end, towering replacement import Laura Schaudt settling down with the team’s play-patterns and providing an intimidating presence on the net and the rest of the squad’s solid support, the Cool Smashers are all set for the big finish.
But PayMaya coach Roger Gorayeb surely still has something up his sleeve and the multi-titled mentor is expected to spring a surprise to neutralize the Cool Smashers’ edge in power and momentum and force a sudden death on Sunday.
Tess Rountree gears up for another spiking duel with Valdez and Kaewpin with fellow import Shelby Sullivan also hoping to raise the level of her game and provide the needed support.
The PayMaya locals, including Jerilli Malabanan, Joyce Sta. Rita, Celine Domingo and Aiko Urdas must also step up although former many-time NCAA MVP Grethcel Soltones and setter and skipper Jasmine Nabor have been dishing out solid games for the High Flyers.
Otherwise, the Cool Masters could be on their way to ending their quest for a PVL championship.
Meanwhile, Air Force likewise tries to finish off Cignal in their own duel for the men’s crown with the Jet Spikers seeking to score a follow up to their 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 30-28, 15-8 decision over the HD Spikers in Game One last Sunday.
They clash at 6 p.m. while Pocari also goes for third place honors in women’s play against BanKo-Perlas at 1:45 p.m.
Vice Co also shoots for third place in the men’s side at 10 a.m.
