CREAMLINE and BaliPure tangle in an early clash of fan favorites while Pocari Sweat seeks a share of the lead against Perlas-BanKo in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference on Wednesday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
The Cool Smashers hurdled the Akari-Adamson side in four in last Saturday’s opener but Alyssa Valdez and company will need to toughen up, particularly in service receives, when they face the Water Defenders in the 6:30 p.m. encounter.
BaliPure actually had a tougher opening game stint in the mid-season conference, needing five sets to beat Power Smashers.
But the Water Defenders are expected to have settled down as they try to re-assert their mastery over the Cool Smashers who they dominated in the Reinforced Conference.
The match will also feature the face-off of two of the league’s power-hitters – Grethcel Soltones and Valdez.
Soltones, a three-time NCAA MVP, fired 22 hits and drew solid backup from Risa Sato, Jerrili Malabanan and Aiko Urdas as they rallied past the Power Smashers.
Valdez and veteran Rosemarie Vargas, on the other hand, each hammered in 18 hits and teamed up with Pau Soriano and ace setter Jia Morado to turn back the tough-fighting Lady Falcons.
Pocari, meanwhile, fought back from a set down to beat University of the Philippines and hope to score a more comfortable win with the Perlas-Banko Spikers at 4 p.m.
Perlas lost in four to Air Force on Saturday.
Sta. Elena and Air Force also dispute the lead in the men’s side in the 1 p.m. match, while newcomer Megabuilders eyes a share of the lead against Café Lupe in the 10 a.m. opener of the event backed by Mikasa and Asics.
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