IT was an action-packed semifinals opener to remember in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference with Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz drawing first blood in the single-round robin play as defending champion Creamline and Chery Tiggo were left searching for answers.
With only three semifinals matches to play per team, every point, set win and match result counts to secure a top two finish and a place in the Finals. However, should there be a tie for the No. 2 spot by the end of semis play, a one-game playoff will decide which of the teams involved in the tie will advance to the championship and which will be relegated to the bronze medal series.
Hence, the second and penultimate day of PVL semis action on Thursday will carry all-important stakes and can even set the stage for both the Finals and battle for third series if certain results were to play out.
READ: Surreal feeling as Choco Mucho OG Madayag sees end to Creamline drought
Here's how the Flying Titans and Angels can reach the Finals on Day Two of the semis, how the Crossovers' bid for a second title series trip can stay alive and how the Cool Smashers can save their title defense.
#1 Petro Gazz (1-0) AND #2 Choco Mucho (1-0) win
As opening-day winners, Petro Gazz and Choco Mucho seize control of how the rest of the single-round robin semifinals will play out. And it continues on Thursday when the Angels take on Creamline and the Flying Titans face Chery Tiggo.
Back in the preliminaries, Brooke Van Sickle & Co. outlasted the defending champions in a five-set Sta. Rosa thriller while it only took four sets for reigning MVP Sisi Rondina and the rest of the Flying Titans to dispatch the Crossovers.
With recent history both in their favor, all it will take come Thursday is for both Petro Gazz and Choco Mucho to win their respective second-day assignments, regardless of how many sets it'll take, to advance to the Finals.
#3 Creamline (0-1) AND #4 Chery Tiggo (0-1) WIN
Taking the above-mentioned scenario into account, the Cool Smashers and Crossovers will be fighting for survival to avoid dropping to the bronze medal series.
Coincidentally, Creamline and Chery Tiggo finished third and fourth respectively the last time the PVL used a single-round robin semis format back in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference.
In order to save their title hopes for at least another semis matchday, both teams need to win in their respective matches over the current semis leaders to force a four-way tie at 1-1 (win-loss) ahead of Sunday's semis finale.
#3 Creamline (0-1) OR #4 Chery Tiggo (0-1) WIN
In essence, whichever team between Creamline or Chery Tiggo wins on Thursday will keep its top two chase alive. Losing for a second time in the semis, however, will send a team on the brink of missing out on the finals or hope for a three-way tie at 1-2 by the end of the semis.
Meanwhile, a 1-1 card will be enough to stay in the running for a top two spot when the semis ends on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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