By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Thursday
(FilOil EcoOil Arena)
1:30 p.m. – Chery Tiggo vs Galeries Tower
4 p.m. – Akari vs Petro Gazz
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs ZUS Coffee
ZUS Coffee seeks to extend its strong start as it squares off with defending champion Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Match is at 6:30 p.m. with the Thunderbelles eyeing a third straight victory in as many games and a strong Pool B standing in the second round of the preliminaries.
Akari (2-0) and Petro Gazz (2-1) collide in a crucial 4 p.m. tussle as both teams gun for a strong position in the Top 3 race, while Chery Tiggo and Galeries Tower tangle at 1:30 p.m. in a battle of winless squads.
ZUS Coffee has been impressive in their wins over Galeries Tower and Chery Tiggo, dropping only one set so far – big thanks to American reinforcement Anna DeBeer.
The hard-hitting spiker turned heads with a 37-point explosion against the Crossovers, then followed it up with 18 points against the Highrisers.
Despite a strong start, ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee remains cautious.
“We’re still a work in progress,” Yee said. “ “There are still a lot of lapses we need to address. We’re waiting for the tougher teams – that’s when everything we’re working on will really come out.”
Yee casts his eyes on AC Miner, Kate Santiago and setter Cloanne Mondonedo to lead the Thunderbells against an experienced Creamline crew composed of import Coco Schwan, Alyssa Valdez, Pangs Panaga and Tots Carlos.
In the other pairing, Akari also hopes to protect its clean slate with import Annie Mitchem jelling well with locals Eli Soyud, Ced Domingo, Chenie Tagaod and Fifi Sharma.
But the Angels are eager to improve their 2-1 mark with Lindsey Vander Weide, Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips in front of their assault.
