Savi Davison bounced back from a shaky start to lead PLDT with a stellar offensive performance in the second and third sets. Her effort, combined with a near-flawless team showing in the third frame, turned the match into a lopsided affair.
The victory also served as sweet revenge for PLDT, who had lost a five-set match to Akari during the Reinforced Conference last year.
A quick hit from Majoy Baron extended PLDT’s commanding lead to 18-8 in the final set, effectively sealing the Chargers’ fate.
Akari attempted a late rally at 14-22, but back-to-back hits from Erika Santos and Kiesha Bedonia brought the High Speed Hitters to match point. Baron then sealed the victory with a deft left-hand power tip, wrapping up the contest in just one hour and 27 minutes.
The win improved PLDT’s record to 4-2, tying them with idle Chery Tiggo at fourth in the rankings of the grueling six-month tournament.
“I feel happy and enjoyed the game the whole time,” said Baron, who delivered 11 points with an impressive 61.11 percent attack efficiency, earning Player of the Game honors.
“We came in prepared since this was the first game of the year, and we stuck to our game plan,” she added.
Davison led PLDT with 15 points, including two kill blocks, and six excellent receptions. Erika Santos added 10 markers, while Dell Palomata and Fiola Ceballos chipped in seven and five points, respectively.
Setter Angge Alcantara orchestrated the offense brilliantly, tallying 12 of the team’s 13 excellent sets and adding four points of her own.
Meanwhile, the Chargers struggled to find their rhythm, missing the services of star player Grethcel Soltones due to a minor knee injury.
Faith Nisperos paced the Chargers with 11 points, but Ivy Lacsina was limited to just six markers. Erika Raagas and Ezra Madrigal added five and four points, respectively.
Akari’s libero, Justine Jazareno, made her return to the court for the Chargers after taking a leave of absence due to pregnancy. However, she was unable to replicate the standout performances of Jolina Dela Cruz of Farm Fresh and Deanna Wong of Choco Mucho earlier in the tournament.
She recorded 10 excellent digs, but it was not enough to offset PLDT’s dominance at the net and on offense.
The High Speed Hitters outscored Akari in attacks (45-27) and blocks (9-3), showcasing their superiority throughout the match.
