PLDT left no doubt in the end.
Drawing from experience and composure in yet another grueling five-set encounter, the High Speed Hitters overwhelmed Farm Fresh in a dominant final frame, fashioning out a 25-14, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-5 victory on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum to sweep their best-of-three series and secure the bronze medal in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
What had been a tightly contested duel for four sets quickly turned into a one-sided showcase in the decider, where PLDT unleashed its full arsenal – crisp attacks, relentless floor defense and imposing net presence – to close out the Foxies with authority.
Kim Dy punctuated the emphatic finish with a kill block on Royse Tubino, sealing what proved to be the most lopsided fifth set in the teams’ three five-set clashes this conference. The On Tour and Invitational champions had also prevailed in their previous encounters, including a hard-fought 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 26-28, 15-11 escape in Game One of the series.
PLDT’s control in the final set was built on a blistering start, turning early deadlocks into a 7-2 advantage behind the combined firepower of Savi Davison and Dy. The cushion widened as Mika Reyes delivered consecutive blocks on Mylene Paat to push the lead to an insurmountable 13-4.
Anchoring it all was libero Kath Arado, who turned in a stellar performance with 28 excellent digs and 21 receptions to earn Best Player of the Game honors, outshining the team’s heavy hitters and frontline defenders.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride for us. We went through so many emotions,” said Arado in Filipino, reflecting on the team’s journey and the lessons they learned along the way. “We realized there’s still so much we need to do to truly understand each other. There’s a lot more we can draw from as a team, and I’m grateful because my teammates held on – on and off the court, everyone really persevered.”
She also emphasized how patience became their defining trait throughout the conference.
“It’s all about patience. I didn’t expect that I would need to stretch my patience even more because every team has improved, and we struggled in different aspects every game,” said Arado. “But we stayed patient, especially on my part. I just kept doing my job to help everyone.”
That patience was tested in the fourth set, where Farm Fresh refused to fold. The Foxies erased a 10-14 deficit and surged late behind Trisha Tubu, who delivered back-to-back hits off Alohi Robins-Hardy’s sets to turn a 19-20 deficit into a 23-19 lead.
An ace from Pierre Abellana brought Farm Fresh to set point, and although PLDT briefly resisted with consecutive hits, Tubu eventually forced a deciding set with a decisive attack.
But the final frame belonged entirely to PLDT.
Dy led PLDT with 21 points, highlighted by six blocks, while Davison delivered an all-around performance with 20 points and 10 digs. Kiesha Bedonia also made her presence felt with 15 points, combining effectively with Shiela Kiseo in the decider.
Reyes and Majoy Baron contributed 10 points each, emphasizing the High Speed Hitters’ balanced attack that produced 66 points – four more than the Foxies. PLDT also dominated at the net with 12 blocks, two more than Farm Fresh, and managed to overcome a challenging 26-error outing, 10 more than its opponent.
Tubu paced Farm Fresh with 23 points, including crucial hits in the fourth set, but was unable to replicate the same intensity in the fifth. Ces Molina added 12 points, while Riri Meneses, Paat, and Tubino chipped in nine points apiece.
With the two-hour, one-minute win, the High Speed Hitters completed a dominant run against the Foxies, winning 10 of their 11 meetings, including all three five-set matches they figured in during the conference – further underscoring their mastery in clutch situations.
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