Creamline, Chery Tiggo clash as PVL meet unwraps

THE Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference unfolds today (Tuesday) in a gathering of talents of varying forms and styles setting out with the same goal— win at all costs.

And while Creamline remains the yardstick given its intact, tested roster, there is a slew of reasons for the other teams to be optimistic about their respective chances but forbears to make any promises at this early stage.

One thing is certain though—the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc. is in for a record run.

Thirteen teams, including three new members and two foreign guest squads —the most in any conference since the SVMGI revived the sport in 2004— will slug it out for the coveted crown in a single elimination format with the 11 local teams divided into two groups.

Group A is made up of defending champion Creamline, a souped-up Chery Tiggo, a solid PLDT, unpredictable Akari and Gerflor, one of the three new teams, while Petro Gazz, F2 Logistics, Choco Mucho, Cignal and newcomers Farm Fresh and Foton banner Group B. Multi-awarded Alyssa Valdez, the heart and soul of Creamline, summed it all up when she said: “The level of competition will definitely be higher this conference.”

Three months after retaining the All-Filipino Conference, formerly the Open, the Cool Smashers never stopped dreaming and preparing for another title run with the team’s core anchoring the national women’s team’s campaign in the recent SEA Games in Cambodia.

THE Katayama Baseball Academy scraped past powerhouse De La Salle, 4-3, in the opening game of the 1 United Philippines Baseball Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium over the weekend.

Stars’ player/coach Keiji Katayama utilized his three pitchers against Green Archer batters as starter Raymond Nerosa lorded it over the mound in 5 innings, Diego Lozano pitched in the next 2, while Alvin Herrera held the rallying sluggers until the final frame highlighted by a strikeout to prevent an equalizer and a winning run.

This sealed the first victory by the KBA in the first post-pandemic tournament sanctioned by Philippine Amateur Baseball Association at the Rizal Baseball Diamond in Malate, Manila.

“National team players (Mark) Beronilla had 3 hits and (Ignacio) Escano did a good job offensively. We had a good start in this tour- nament,” said Japanese baseball expert and sports patron Keiji Katayama, who is based in the Philippines.

The KBA Stars team is composed of Kyle Villafania Jr., Escano, Beronilla, Clairon Santos, Boo Barandiaran, Danric Catativo, Carl and Luis Miñana, Dino Almonte, Anton Rosas, Marion Gonzales, Allan Jay Dimal, Javi Macasaet, Gerard Riparip, Sean Jeremy Salaysay, Gino Tantuico, Alwen Nicole, Jason Salamida, Marco Mallari, actor/ sportsman Gary Ejercito, Nerosa, Herrera and Lozano.

After the curtain raiser of the tripleheader was a colorful opening ceremony graced by PABA secretary general Jose ‘Pepe’ Munoz.

The tournament is divided into two groups, with KBA Stars and DLSU in bracket A, along with National University, University of Santo Tomas, Thunderz and Philippine Air Force. In bracket B are ADU, IPPC, ADMU, Tanauan, UP-A and