MANILA, Philippines — On a five-game run, Creamline still gears up for a tough outing against a surging Motolite side in pursuit of the second semifinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan today.
The Cool Smashers turned back the Power Builders in their first round elims meeting last June 8, shrugging off a shaky first-set to hack out a 13-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 victory, one of the five they posted since dropping a straight-set setback to first semifinalists and unbeaten PetroGazz Angels in the May 26 opener.
But the defending champions will be hard-pressed to duplicate their win over the undermanned Power Builders in a bid to join the Angels in post-season play.
For one, Motolite is coming off back-to-back romps after losing all its first four games. Though they remained at fifth in the six-team field, the Power Builders are tipped to crowd the PacificTown Army Lady Troopers (3-3) and the BanKo-Perlas Spikers (2-5) for the last two seats in the Final Four with six playdates left in the double-round elims.
Game time is 5 p.m. with Motolite, still without injured top local ace Myla Pablo, hoping to ride the momentum of its victory over PacificTown Army in Imus, Cavite last Sunday in the second of the back-to-back weekend out-of-town games in the league sponsored by Mikasa, Asics and KFC.
But the Cool Smashers are likewise coming into the match oozing with confidence following their 3-0 romp over the skidding Perlas Spikers in Iloilo City last Saturday.
The Lady Troopers, on the other hand, try to shore up their campaign as they take on the winless BaliPure Water Defenders in the 3 p.m. opener of another explosive twinbill.