Seeing the light, Akari tackles Petro Gazz; PLDT, ZUS part ways
When teams with championship lineage collide against young clubs searching for their own space in volleyball lore in a knockout semifinal match, only one thing is certain: The PVL Reinforced Conference will crown a new champion at the end of the tournament.
Akari, Petro Gazz, ZUS Coffee, PLDT. Four teams with unique stories are out to snatch a crown that fell off powerhouse Creamline’s head. Four semifinalists in a one-game duel for what will also be a knockout duel for the title.
The first semifinal game at 4 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum features two teams that struggled in the elimination round but upset the higher seeds in the quarterfinals to advance.
The No. 8 seed Akari, the giant-slayer that stunned top-seeded Farm Fresh in the knockout quarterfinals, is looking for just its second finals appearance as it continues searching for a franchise-first title.
“We’re slowly seeing the light because we are the Chargers,” said new coach Tina Salak.
Underdog again
“Being in the semis is a whole different story. And of course, respect to Petro Gazz, they’re a champion team, and they’re tough. There’s no easy win at this stage, so we really have to prepare.”
Once again, Akari will don the underdog cape as it faces fifth-seed Petro Gazz, which is looking to end a three-year finals drought in the Reinforced. The Angels are favored in more ways beyond the seeding: They were also the ones who knocked the Cool Smashers out of their throne in their quarterfinal clash.
Petro Gazz is hoping to annex another trophy after its maiden All-Filipino title won last May.
The Angels won this conference in 2019 and 2022.
“If you’re not playing your A-game, you’re gonna get beat,” said Petro Gazz rookie coach Gary Van Sickle. “I’m sure Akari’s gonna be another dog fight for us.”
‘Mental edge’
PLDT and ZUS Coffee will clash in the second game at 6:30 p.m., with the High Speed Hitters looking to add another crown after winning the PVL on Tour and the Invitational in back-to-back fashion—which featured knockout matches as well.
“Maybe that’s one of the blessings from the last two conferences, getting thrown into knockout games. We … already know what it feels like, and I think it gives us a bit of a mental edge,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort.
Ricafort is facing his mentor coach Jerry Yee, who turned ZUS Coffee into the league’s youngest revelation. The Thunderbelles went from perennial cellar-dweller to a team that dropped to the No. 2 seed only via tiebreak.
Yee hopes to continue his dream run, as Anna DeBeer headlines their deep roster.
“It’s going to be tough,” said DeBeer. “We’ve just been taking it one game at a time this whole season. So, we’re going to do exactly that and not get ahead of ourselves and focus on what we can do.”
