Creamline, Est Cola eye finals showdown

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline and Thailand’s Est Cola aim to arrange a title showdown, while PLDT and Nxled hope to avert it as they take different routes in the crucial final PVL Invitational elimination round playdate today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Cool Smashers, denied an outright finals ticket following a stinging 21-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25 defeat to the Thais last Friday, will have another chance to book a trip to the finals as they battle the High Speed Hitters in their 6:30 p.m. duel.

That defeat forged a tie between Creamline and Est Cola on top at 3-1, a game ahead of PLDT and Nxled with 2-2 marks.

Est Cola could claim a spot in the finals if it hurdles Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Volleyball Federation in their 4 p.m. showdown.

The Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise and Nxled will have a chance to gatecrash the finale if they win their last outings, including the latter’s 1:30 p.m. match with Farm Fresh, which is already out of contention with a 1-2 mark, the same slate as HVF.