Cool Smashers gun for solo lead

DEFENDING champion Creamline shoots for a solo lead in the standings when it faces Army Black Mamba in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena today, February 28.

Game time is 4 p.m.

The Cool Smashers are coming off a 17-25, 25-11, 25-19, 25-21 win over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers last Saturday.

With Alyssa Valdez still out and Tots Carlos nursing an injury, Jema Galanza made sure that Creamline wouldn't go down, especially after losing the first set to Chery Tiggo.

Galanza unleashed an all-around performance of 25 points, 13 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions to lead the Cool Smashers to the win and to a 4-1 slate.

Creamline shares the top spot with F2 Logistics at press time but a win over the also-ran Lady Troopers will give them the solo lead in the standings.

The Cool Smashers are expected to lean on Jema Galanza once more as well as Michele Gumbao and star setter Jia de Guzman.

Army Black Mamba, meanwhile, are out for its win this conference after dropping to 0-4 with a 25-23, 20-25, 16-25, 27-25, 11-15 loss to Choco Mucho last Thursday.

The defeat also stretched the Lady Troopers losing run to 17 games dating back to the Invitational Conference last year.

Royce Tubino has been the one of the bright spots in the Lady Troopers' dry spell and she looks to lead Army, the only team with no victory this conference, to a win this time.

Meanwhile, the Akari Chargers (1-3) and the PLDT High Speed Hitters (3-1) clash in the second game of the double-header at 6:30 p.m.