Angels, Cool Smashers launch drive in PVL Open Conference

MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Open Conference gets going today with PetroGazz launching its drive for a second straight championship against BanKo-Perlas and Creamline kicking off its title-retention bid versus a comebacking Air Force side at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Angels, powered by a pair of talented imports, dethroned the Cool Smashers in the recent Reinforced Conference finals with the former ready and raring to prove their worth as a championship-caliber squad in the centerpiece conference of the league with their  unmatched chemistry.

“We really prepared hard for this conference since this is all-Filipino, the main tournament of each PVL season,” said multi-awarded middle blocker Jeanette Panaga. “This will test how far can we go as a team without our imports.”

The high-leaping Cherry Nuñag admits focus will be on them and, like Panaga, the Reinforced Conference second Best Middle blocker is out to prove that the Angels can vie for a championship even without the celebrated duo of American Janisa Johnson and Cuban Wilma Salas.

“We’ll show everyone that we can do it even without the imports,” said Nuñag, who will also be leaning on the likes of Jonah Sabete, Paneng Mercado, Alyssa Layug, Joveylyn Prado, setters Djanel Cheng and Chie Saet, Cai Baloaloa, Jessey de Leon, and liberos Cienne Cruz and Rica Enclona.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with the Perlas Spikers seeking to start out strong in a bid to erase the stigma of a faltering finish in the recent conference that saw them lose steam and bow to the PacificTown Army Lady Troopers in the battle for third.

BanKo-Perlas boasts a combination of veteran and rising stars with Sue Roces, Dzi Gervacio expected to provide the experience and poise and the likes of Nicole Tiamzon, Kathy Bersola and Mary Mae Tajima the firepower for a team that also features Roma Doromal, Cherilyn Sindayen, Gizelle Tan, Ella de Jesus, Jem Ferrer, Ana Gopico and Rose Mary Cailing.

Though the Cool Smashers appear to have the edge in their 2 p.m. clash, Air Force remains a tough rival with Joy Cases, May Ann Pantino, Angel Mae Antipuesto, Dell Palomata and Wendy Semana itching to strut their wares after skipping the first conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC.