Cool Smashers target No. 4 vs Perlas Spikers

Games Wednesday
2 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs PacificTown-Army
4 p.m. – BaliPure vs Air Force
6 p.m. – BanKo-Perlas vs Creamline

MANILA, Philippines – Creamline gets the chance to flaunt its awesome form the fourth time around but against a fired-up BanKo-Perlas side even as veteran-laden PacificTown-Army and newcomer Choco Mucho clash in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Open Conference at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan today.

The Cool Smashers kicked off their title-retention campaign on a three-win romp, all in straight-set fashion, making them the favorites over the Perlas Spikers in the 6 p.m. main dish of another explosive triple-bill in the all-Filipino conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

But the Perlas Spikers are back on track after losing in four to the Lady Troopers following their surprise win over the Reinforced Conference champions PetroGazz Angels with former UP stalwart Nicole Tiamzon and former Ateneo star Dzi Gervacio emerging as the top two scorers in the early going of the double round elims.

Tiamzon and Gervacio even led Alyssa Valdez with 48 and 46 points with the Creamline ace hitter settling for 44 markers while giving the rest of the Cool Smashers the chance to shine.

They include Michele Gumabao, who is at fourth in scoring with 33 points with teammate and former Adamson standout Jema Galanza in fifth with 32.

That should guarantee a slam-bang encounter between the Cool Smashers, out to keep the crown after yielding the Reinforced title to the Angels, and the Perlas Spikers, who are eying for no less than a share of the lead with the crowd favorites.

Choco Mucho is also out to prove its worth as it takes on PacificTown-Army in the 2 p.m. opener with both teams seeking a second straight victory. The Flying Titans debuted with an impressive straight-set win over the BaliPure Water Defenders, while the lady Troopers stopped the Perlas Spikers.

Air Force and BaliPure, meanwhile, tangle at 4 p.m. in a duel of winless squads in the nine-team tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC.