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Games Thursday
4 p.m. – ZUS Coffee vs Galeries Tower
6:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Cignal
PLDT stormed to its third consecutive victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries, overwhelming Capital1 with a commanding 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 win at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The High Speed Hitters showcased their formidable power game, which proved too much for the youthful Solar Spikers to counter. On top of their offensive firepower, PLDT displayed defensive mastery, thwarting multiple attempts by the struggling Solar Spikers, who are still finding their rhythm as a team.
From spikes (48-31) to blocks (11-1), PLDT dominated the two key facets of the game. Despite their inexperience, however, the Solar Spikers had a small silver lining – they committed fewer unforced errors, tallying just 14 compared to PLDT’s 18.
But the High Speed Hitters’ superiority on the wings and at the net more than compensated for their miscues and shaky reception, allowing them to dictate the pace and convert points in bunches on their way to the one-hour, 24-minute triumph.
Despite another dominant performance, libero Kath Arado emphasized the need for the team to sharpen its reception, especially with tougher opponents looming.
“Kasi nga ang mga next games namin ay mga teams na malalakas mag-serve,” said Arado. “We need consistency (in reception). Kasi madali na lang umatake pag maganda ang reception.”
The Solar Spikers scored four aces against the High Speed Hitters’ two.
Arado’s defensive brilliance was on full display as she earned top honors with 14 excellent digs and seven receptions, anchoring PLDT’s backline against the Solar Spikers.
On offense, Savi Davison spearheaded PLDT’s attack with a game-high 17 points, while Fiola Ceballos and Dell Palomata contributed 11 and nine markers, respectively. Ceballos also excelled on defense, finishing with 16 digs, surpassing Arado’s tally by two.
Davison also added seven excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, it was another challenging outing for the Solar Spikers as they suffered their third straight loss. Heather Guino-o led the team with 10 points, but no other player reached double figures as Lourdes Clemente-De Guzman settled for five points, and Sydney Niegos, Jorelle Singh, Iris Tolenada, and Patty Orendain only managed four markers apiece.
The Solar Spikers had shown promise earlier in the tournament, particularly in their hard-fought five-set loss to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Nov. 12. However, they continue to struggle in finding cohesion and consistency as the league progresses.
On the other hand, PLDT’s blazing start to the conference has been aided by a favorable early schedule, which included a four-set triumph over Nxled and a sweep of Galeries Tower. These initial wins have built momentum as the team prepares for tougher challenges ahead.
The High Speed Hitters will next face the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Dec. 3, a team that has split its first two matches. This clash will test PLDT’s mettle as it tangles with the Petro Gazz Angels on Dec. 10 before the league’s final set of games for the year on Dec. 14.
After the Dec. 14 double-header featuring Galeries Tower vs. Chery Tiggo at 4 p.m. and Cignal vs. Petro Gazz at 6 p.m., the league, backed by official health and beauty partner Watsons, will take a holiday break.
Matches will resume on Jan. 18 with a triple-header: Farm Fresh vs. Nxled at 1:30 p.m., ZUS Coffee vs. Choco Mucho at 4 p.m., and Akari vs. PLDT at 6:30 p.m., all at the Pasig venue.
With its all-around dominance and early victories, PLDT is poised to cement its status as a strong contender in the record-setting six-month PVL season.