- Petro Gazz Angels and Creamline Cool Smashers look to seal their entry into the PVL All-Filipino Finals with separate wins in the semifinals on April 3, Thursday.
- Akari and Choco Mucho, meanwhile, fight to live another day as they look to force a playoff for the spot in the championship round.
April 3, Thursday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 4pm – Akari Chargers vs Petro Gazz Angels
- 6:30pm –Choco Mucho Flying Titans vs Creamline Cool Smashers
–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
An uncharacteristic collapse in a previous semifinal match only served to motivate the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Especially Bernadeth Pons.
And it showed in the way the reigning champions blanked Akari, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19, on Tuesday in their PVL All-Filipino Conference showdown, one that allowed them to right their path toward another crown.
“We knew … that loss [to Petro Gazz] wasn’t who we are. [Bouncing back from that loss] really served as motivation,” said Pons, who finished with 17 points, 15 receptions and 12 to anchor Creamline’s victory, which averted a semifinal exit.
Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle. –MARLO CUETO/IINQUIRER.net
Brooke Van Sickle has established herself as a potent scorer in the Premier Volleyball League, especially up front.
But when she rotates to the back line, she wants to be relevant outside of the offense.
“I feel like that’s how the thought process should be with defense,” she said. When I’m not on the frontcourt, then it’s like, okay, what can I do in the backcourt to give back? That’s it.”
Akari Chargers’ Ivy Lacsina during the PVL All-Filipino semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ivy Lacsina was limited to an average of eight points as Akari split its first two semifinal games in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Akari couldn’t sustain its five-set win over Choco Mucho last Saturday, anchored by Eli Soyud’s career-high 34 points, as the Chargers got swept by the Creamline Cool Smashers, 18-25, 19-25, 19-25, on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
Soyud was held to 11, while Lacsina struggled anew with another eight-point outing despite being a top-five scorer until the qualifying round with 178 points in 12 games.
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