The 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference play-in tournament is expected to deliver all the drama, excitement, and thrilling moments as six teams, in two pools, compete for the final two quarterfinal slots.
The race for the final two quarterfinal spots in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference heats up as six teams enter the league’s first-ever play-in tournament.
With only two slots up for grabs, expect intense battles as teams fight to keep their championship hopes alive.
How does the play-in tournament work?
The six teams are divided into two groups:
- Pool A: Cignal HD Spikers, ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, Capital1 Solar Spikers
- Pool B: Chery Tiggo Crossovers, Farm Fresh Foxies, Nxled Chameleons
Each team will play against its poolmates, with the top finisher from each group advancing to the quarterfinals as the seventh and eighth seeds.
However, the road ahead doesn’t get any easier as those who survive will face two of the league’s toughest teams in the next round.
Grueling path to the quarterfinals
Winner of Pool A secures the No. 7 seed and a best-of-three quarterfinal matchup against the red-hot Petro Gazz Angels, who are currently on a league-best 10-game winning streak.
Winner of Pool B claims the No. 8 seed but faces an even bigger challenge: a showdown with the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers, a team synonymous with PVL dominance.
With both Petro Gazz and Creamline well-rested and in top form, the play-in teams will have to dig deep to pull off an upset.
Who has the edge?
Cignal was expected to secure a direct quarterfinal slot but will now have to fight through the play-in round. They’ll be eager to bounce back after a disappointing performance in the qualifying round.
Chery Tiggo has been a constant figure in the playoffs as they look to return to the quarterfinals.
ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh are underdogs in Pool A but have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the conference.
Capital1 and Nxled, both young teams, will look to prove they can compete at a high level.
Quarterfinal picture taking shape
While the play-in teams battle for survival, four teams have already secured their quarterfinal spots:
- (3) Galeries Tower vs. (6) Akari Chargers
- (4) PLDT High Speed Hitters vs. (5) Choco Mucho Flying Titans
Galeries Tower, in their first playoff appearance, aims to keep their Cinderella run alive, while PLDT seeks to avenge their elimination-round loss to Choco Mucho.
The PVL All-Filipino play-in tournament kicks off on Thursday, March 7, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig, with ZUS Coffee vs. Cignal at 4:00 p.m., followed by Chery Tiggo vs. Nxled at 6:30 p.m.
Amid the high stakes, unpredictable matchups, and two quarterfinal spots at stake, the PVL’s first-ever play-in tournament is expected to deliver all the drama and excitement fans could ask for.