The solo second spot in Pool B will be at stake when Smart-Army and Cocolife slug it out in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
Game time is at 7 p.m. with both the Giga Hitters and Asset Managers looking for a chance to clinch the outright semifinal berth in this prestigious women’s club tourney bankrolled by Isuzu, UCPB Gen and SOGO Hotel with ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV as official broadcast partners.
Prior to that, Pool A leader Generika-Ayala inches closer from sealing the outright semifinal ticket when it tackles F2 Logistics in the 4:15 p.m. first game of this league that also has Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, Asics and Grand Sport as technical sponsors.
Action is tipped to heat up as the Lifesavers posted convincing victories over Foton and United Auctioneers-UP while the Cargo Movers are fresh from a fourth-place finish from the 2018 Sealect Tuna Women’s Volleyball Championship in Sisaket, Thailand.
Meanwhile, Petron made a rousing debut when it crushed Foton, 27-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-17, late Tuesday at the Cadiz Arena in Negros Occidental.
National Team stalwart Ces Molina fired 15 points while Mika Reyes and Aiza Maizo-Pontillas chipped in 13 and 12 hits, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers, who made their first game after winning the Grand Prix last May.
But all eyes will be on the Lifesavers.
Bannered by Angeli Araneta, Bang Pineda, Patty Orendain, Ria Meneses and Kat Arado, Generika-Ayala made heads turn with its revved up offense and airtight net and floor defense.
Head coach Sherwin Menses said their resolve would be tested as they face a very solid team in the Cargo Movers.
“F2 Logistics is a very solid team. Even if you’re playing their second unit, it’s like facing the starters,” said Generika-Ayala coach Sherwin Meneses.
“But the ball is round. I think we are capable of pulling an upset because my players are all working hard.”
The Cargo Movers, on the other hand, are riding the crest of their successful campaign in Thailand, which came at the heels of a straight-set win over the Tornadoes in the opener.
“It was a tiring tournament, but we gained the necessary experience regardless of our finish. It was a big boost for F2 Logistics,” said head coach Ramil de Jesus, who will bank on Aby Marano, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Kianna Dy, Dawn Macandili and skipper Cha Cruz.