Choco, Creamline clash in keenly awaited tiff

MANILA, Philippines —  Choco Mucho and Creamline, unquestionably the most popular volleyball teams in the land today, face off for the first time this year with one eyeing the first semifinal ticket and the other fighting for survival in a Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference elimination-round duel that is expected to break league attendance records.

The most recent Flying Titans-Cool Smashers duel drew a league record crowd of 24,459 fans, erasing the old mark of 19,157.

Sibling rivalry. Destiny versus dynasty. Call it what you want.

The match made in heaven is happening at 6 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But unlike before, the Flying Titans have the upper hand this time in terms of win-loss record as they currently lead the league with an 8-1 slate, a win away from the first spot in the single-round-robin semis.

The Cool Smashers have stumbled twice and looked vulnerable at times in earning a 7-2 mark in a four-way logjam at second with the Petro Gazz Angels, PLDT High Speed Hitters and Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

A win for the dynastic franchise would send it to the top and closer to advancing to the semis.