Chery Tiggo, Creamline figure in clash of PVL titans

Games Saturday
(Sta. Rosa Sports Complex)

2:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs PLDT
5:30 p.m. – Chery Tiggo vs Creamline

MANILA, Philippines – Chery Tiggo and Creamline put their perfect record on the line as they cross paths Saturday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in what many viewed could be a sneak preview to this year’s Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference finals.

Unbeaten in five starts, the Crossovers face off with the Cool Smashers, unscathed in four, in a clash between the league’s titans set at 5:30 p.m.

On one side there’s Chery Tiggo, out to reclaim lost glory after topping last year’s Open Conference and faltering in the Open and Invitational Conferences early this season.

On the other there’s a mighty Creamline, champion of the last two conferences and on the crux of fashioning out a feat that none before it had done — snare a historic Grand Slam.

Mylene Paat has been the heart and soul of the Crossovers’ resurgence with one clutch performance after another including a masterful 23-point effort in a come-from-behind 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-18, 15-12 win over the United Auctioneers Army Lady Troopers Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

For the Cool Smashers, they have been relying on a consistently balanced contribution from their deep roster headed by Turk Yeliz Basa, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza and skipper Alyssa Valdez.

So deep was Creamline that Tots Carlos, the MVP last two conferences, hasn’t even contributed that much yet after being slowed down early by health concerns.

And when she does, Chery Tiggo could be in trouble.

“We’ve always relied on our familiarity with each other, our chemistry and trusting the system,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.

Petro Gazz (2-1) and PLDT (1-3), for their part, seek to enhance their semis bids as they tangle at 2:30 p.m.