Cool Smashers, Angels eye win No. 5

MANILA, Philippines —  Creamline and Petro Gazz aim to keep their grip of the lead as they battle Capital1 Solar Energy and Chery Tiggo, respectively, today in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In a five-team bind at the helm with Cignal, Choco Mucho and PLDT with identical 4-1 records, the Cool Smashers and Angels sail out to snatch the lead by themselves with the former tackling the Solar Spikers at 4 p.m. and the latter facing the Crossovers at 6 p.m.

Capital1 has a 1-4 record while Chery Tiggo has 3-2.

The dynastic Creamline franchise, winner of a league record six titles, is reeling from a shock 25-18, 26-24, 25-23 loss to Chery Tiggo last Saturday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It was the former’s first defeat after 19 straight wins including an amazing 15-game sweep of the AFC in December last year.

Its last loss came on July 30 last year in the one-game Invitational final against eventual winner Kurashiki Ablaze.

It was also the Cool Smashers’ first straight set defeat since succumbing to Petro Gazz in the 2019 Reinforced Conference.

And Creamline is expected to come in full force and vent its ire on the Roger Gorayeb-mentored Capital1 side, a team owned by sisters Milka and Mandy Romero, and formed just less than a month before the conference started.

Petro Gazz, in contrast, should ride on the crest of a three-game streak that was capped by a 25-21, 27-25, 25-19 win over a young, gritty Farm Fresh Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

Brooke Van Sickle should remain as Petro Gazz’ main source of strength.