After finishing second in their respective pools, PLDT and Creamline now face daunting tasks in the quarterfinals of the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League at the PhilSports Arena.
It's win-or-go-home as both squads square off against the top seeds of the opposite groups on Thursday.
The knockout stage kicks off at 4 p.m. with the High Speed Hitters, who placed second in Pool D, battling Pool A top seed Zhetysu VC of Kazakhstan and the Cool Smashers, who placed second in Pool A, clashing with the undefeated Nakhon Ratchasima QminC from Thailand, the top team from Pool D, at 7 p.m.
PetroGazz will take on Beijing Baic Motor on Friday.
Despite a heartbreaking five-set loss to the Thais last Tuesday, PLDT proved its resilience, rallying from a 0-2 hole before falling short in the decider. That performance showcased the High Speed Hitters' fight — but against the powerful Kazakhs, resilience alone won't be enough. They'll need to execute a near-perfect game plan to crack the tall and disciplined Zhetysu defense, which had previously swept the Cool Smashers.
Filipino Canadian Savannah Davison — currently the third-best scorer in the tournament — will once again anchor the squad alongside Cuban import Wilma Salas and resurgent Kianna Dy against a Kazakhstan side powered by Karyna Denysova, Valeriya Yakutina and Tatyana Nikitina.
Likewise, Creamline is staring down an even steeper hill. Nakhon Ratchasima enters the quarterfinals with an imposing reputation, having survived a scare against the Angels and sweeping Pool D.
Despite suffering defeats in their final pool matches, Creamline and PLDT advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament with identical 1-1 records with both squads remaining firmly in the hunt for the title.
The Cool Smashers opened their campaign with a dominant win over Al Naser of Jordan but were stopped by a hard-fought loss to Kazakhstan's Zhetysu — a result that underscored the level of competition awaiting them in the knockout phase. With the stakes now higher, every set and every point will prove crucial.
Creamline will lean on its trio of imports — Erica Staunton, Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Anastasiya Kudryashova — alongside local stalwarts Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Jeanette Panaga, Mich Gumabao, Lorie Bernardo and setter Kyle Negrito.
