The PVL's hottest teams are on a collision course.
The Cignal HD Spikers and the Creamline Cool Smashers are coming off crucial victories on Tuesday, though they won their initial semis assignments in contrasting fashions.
Creamline looked unsteady at times against the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers before eking out a five-setter, 12-25, 25-15, 23-25, 30-28, 15-7. Cignal, on the other hand, made quick work of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, beating them in straight sets, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21.
After their respective victories, the Cool Smashers and the HD Spikers will next figure in a crucial match on Saturday, 4 p.m., with the winner earning hottest team in the league honors. Creamline, of course, is unbeaten in the PVL Invitational Conference, while Cignal has won its last four matches—all via clean sweeps.
Despite the HD Spikers’ fine play as of late, the Cool Smashers are likely the favorites coming in to this semis showdown between the PVL’s two hottest teams. Cignal coach Shaq Delos Santos, though, is confident that his wards can rise to the challenge of toppling the defending champions.
"We will raise our level of play, especially against Creamline,” Delos Santos vowed in an interview with the PVL. “Their team is really strong. So, for us, maybe we just need to recover, rest, review tomorrow, and simply enjoy our game on Saturday."
Rest, incidentally, is something the Cool Smashes will need plenty of after their grueling five setter versus the Cargo Movers. Little wonder then that Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses was in no mood to think about Cignal after dispatching F2 Logistics.
“Saka na namin po-problemahin ang Cignal,” said Meneses said after Creamline’s victory on Tuesday. “Sobrang bilis ng liga, so there’s no time to prepare. Laban talaga lahat.”
Chances are, Creamline versus Cignal will be another dogfight, especially if the HD Spikers do raise their level of play as their coach promised.