Coming off a four-game winning streak before the holiday break, Petro Gazz aims to pick up where it left off as it tangles with Chery Tiggo in the Premier Volleyball League's All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena.
The Angels are brimming with confidence as they gear up for their 6:30 p.m. showdown against the Crossovers. Riding high on their impressive performance in the first half of the 32-playdate preliminary schedule, the Angels capped their run with a dominant sweep of the previously unbeaten Cignal HD Spikers last Dec. 14.
With a 5-1 record, Petro Gazz currently leads the 12-team standings with 15 points, but the competition remains fierce, with seven other teams closely packed in the race. Among them, Chery Tiggo, holding a solid 4-2 slate worth 10 points, is eager to improve its position as the battle for playoff spots intensifies.
Cignal aims to bounce back from its only defeat as it faces Galeries Tower at 1:30 p.m., while Creamline looks to extend its unbeaten streak to five matches in a showdown against Capital1 at 4 p.m.
Facing a formidable lineup spearheaded by Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, and MJ Phillips, the Crossovers have strengthened their roster with the addition of former Cool Smasher Risa Sato.
Known for her exceptional skills and talent as a middle blocker, Sato brings a wealth of experience that is expected to bolster the Crossovers' campaign. Her presence will be instrumental in complementing key players like Cess Robles, Aby Maraño, Pauline Gaston, Shaya Adorador and Ara Galang, providing depth and versatility to their rotation.
Fully aware of the challenge posed by the in-form Angels, the Crossovers maximized their one-month break by focusing on strength and conditioning. The team resumed practice earlier this month, balancing physical preparation with ball and skills training to refine their game.
"Each player was tasked with maintaining their strength and conditioning routines individually during the break," said Chery Tiggo coach Norman Miguel. "To ensure accountability, they submitted video updates to our strength and conditioning coaches for monitoring."
Meanwhile, the Cool Smashers, headed by Bernadeth Pons, Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, Bea de Leon and Michele Gumabao, remain the heavy favorites against the struggling Solar Spikers (1-4), while the HD Spikers, who slipped to second in the standings, are coping with roster challenges following the departures of Ces Molina and Riri Meneses.
Galeries Tower, despite its record, is determined to capitalize on Cignal's depleted lineup.
