Game Monday(MOA Arena)2:30 p.m.- King Whale Taipei vs Army Black Mamba5:30 p.m.- Cignal vs Creamline
Creamline aims to close in on a finals berth as it faces elimination round conqueror Cignal today in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Visiting team King Whale of Taipei also debuts today versus Army Black Mamba at 2:30 p.m., which will precede the 5:30 p.m. main offering pitting the Cool Smashers, unbeaten in two semis games, and the HD Spikers, who split their first two semis outings.
Cignal breathed life to their bid of claiming one of the two spots in the one-game finals slated Aug. 14 also at MOA after edging Army Black Mamba, 22-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-19, 15-12, last Saturday in Antipolo.
Riri Meneses is expected to ride the crest of her spectacular 23-hit performance, easily her best game of the conference thus far, that saved the day for the Open Conference third placer.
Meanwhile, the league announced yesterday the withdrawal of the Philippine team after its National University players were not allowed by their team manager to suit up due to fear of potential injuries.
The Nationals were originally scheduled to clash the league-leading Creamline Cool Smashers in the main game at 5:30 p.m.
League president Ricky Palou said it would resume the tournament with only five squads instead of six.
“Yes, we’ll resume with five teams,” said Palou.
The Philippine team was supposed to fill in for Kobe Shinwa of Japan, who pulled out after one of its players tested positive for COVID-19. — Joey Villar