PVL semis heats up

Farm Fresh and Creamline look to ride the momentum of their recent victories as they kick off their semifinal campaigns against Cignal and PLDT in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Foxies face the Super Spikers at 4 p.m., while the Cool Smashers clash with the High Speed Hitters in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap, with both squads aiming to build on their play-in wins that secured their semifinal berths. With every win crucial in the round-robin semifinals, all four teams are bracing for a tight battle, as Farm Fresh and Creamline push forward despite limited recovery time. Coming off a straight-sets win over the Nxled Chameleons, expect the Foxies to deliver the same intense chemistry with Trisha Tubu and Ces Molina anchoring their offense. Riri Meneses and Ara Galang are also expected to step up behind the net, while setter Alohi Robins-Hardy out to provide playmaking skills. The Foxies, however, aim to keep their composure as they navigate unfamiliar territory –reaching the semifinals for the first time in franchise history unlike the Super Spikers, who have been to the semis twice. Leading Cignal, which is banking on a respite, are Vanie Gandler, Erika Santos and Gel Cayuna. Meanwhile, Creamline expects to lean on its championship experience, having won 10 league titles in history. But as teams and players become tougher during the course of the years, the Cool Smashers are not taking the High Speed Hitters lightly. Vintage Alyssa Valdez banners Creamline along with Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, Pangs Panaga and Jia De Guzman in matching PLDT’s own frontline composed of Savi Davison, Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron and Alleiah Malaluan.