Galeries, Creamline advance to QF; Cignal, Nxled relegated to play-in

The Galeries Tower High Risers and Creamline Cool Smashers are advancing to the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals after dispatching their respective opponents in the qualifying round on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

The no. 10 High Risers pulled off an upset against no. 3 Cignal, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19.

Ysa Jimenez led Galeries with 23 points anchored on 22 attacks, while France Ronquillo added 20 points in the historic win.

For Galeries head coach Lerma Giron, the win just proved they belong to the league's top teams.

"Floating in heaven, very grateful—everything we went through, all our tears, blood, and sweat were worth it because we faced so many challenges before this game," Giron said in Filipino.

"Since January, it was loss after loss after loss. Then we came to the realization that, wait, this can’t go on. But everything is a process—we really studied Cignal’s movements. So, thank You, Lord, all glory to God."

Top-ranked team Creamline, meanwhile, swept Nxled, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17.

Bea de Leon had 12 points from five blocks and an ace to lead the Cool Smashers.

Chiara Permentilla, on the other hand, had 14 points all from attacks.

Galeries will wait for the winner of the Akari-Farm Fresh qualifying match for its quarterfinals matchup, while Creamline will face the winner of Play-In Pool B.

Cignal will be relegated to Pool A of the play-in, while Nxled will be in Pool B. The top winner of each pool will advance to the quarters.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News