MANILA, Philippines – Only four teams remain in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference as the knockout playoffs mechanic adds a quicker, higher-stakes twist to all title aspirations.

After promptly ending the runs of Chery Tiggo, Farm Fresh, Capital1, and former two-time defending conference champion Petro Gazz in the do-or-die quarterfinals, top-seeded Akari, Cignal, Creamline, and PLDT are now on a thrilling semifinal collision course on Saturday, August 31, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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FIRST SET

• END OF SET 1: PLDT blows a 15-8 lead as Akari erupts to a 25-22 win.
• Akari 18-17: Ivy Lacsina pushes Akari ahead with the soft touch. 10-2 run.
• PLDT 17-17: Oly Okaro booming kill for the 9-2 run.
• PLDT 15-12: Grethcel Soltones off the block. Akari 4-0 run.
• PLDT jumps to a big 15-8 start over Akari.

PVL | STATS:

Per the PVL broadcast, Akari's Oly Okaro and PLDT's Lena Samoilenko are headed for the perfect semifinal matchup this afternoon.

BOTH have exactly:

220 points on 199 attacks, 14 blocks, and 7 aces for the conference so far.#PVL2024

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) August 31, 2024

Preview

All teams get an unexpected, but much welcomed two days of rest after a power outage forced the PVL to postpone its Thursday, August 29 semis schedule.

Undefeated Akari first takes on veteran PLDT at 2:30 pm on Saturday, featuring a clash of top scoring imports Oly Okaro for the Chargers and Lena Samoilenko for the High Speed Hitters.

Meanwhile, severely shorthanded Creamline pushes its unique narrative further against consistent Cignal around 4:30 pm, as the likes of Erica Staunton, Bernadeth Pons, and Michele Gumabao carry the load anew for the different-looking Cool Smashers.

Import MJ Perez, former MVP Ces Molina, and three-time Best Setter Gel Cayuna are expected to again lead the HD Spikers.

One wrong move or one slow start from any team can spell certain doom. Who will blink and crash next?

– Rappler.com