PLDT charged back and repulsed F2 Logistics, 25-21, 27-25, 25-23, as the High Speed Hitters kept their slim hopes alive in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Thursday night.
The victory, its sixth against four losses, tied PLDT with idle Petro Gazz at fifth, just behind the fourth-running Cignal, which totes a 7-3 card. But the High Speed Hitters and the Angels’ chances still depend on the result of the Cignal-Gerflor face-off in the finals elims playdate on Tuesday.
Facing an ousted team eager to close out its campaign on a winning mode, PLDT struggled trying to find its rhythm but the High Speed Hitters managed to pull through in critical moments, including in the second set where they rallied from 22-24 down and won five of the last six points to steal the frame for a 2-0 set lead.
However, they nearly blew a 23-21 lead in the third as the Cargo Movers fought back with consecutive points to force a tie. But the High Speed Hitters regrouped and countered with their own back-to-back hits, highlighted by a Savi Davison kill that ended the one-hour, 34-minute encounter that was close throughout.
The victory also snapped PLDT’s three-game skid while dealing F2 Logistics its fifth straight defeat for a closing 4-7 mark.
“We’re happy (to win) coming off a loss to Choco Mucho plus our key members who were injured,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort. “So, nag step-up ‘yung iba, like Ange (Legacion) and Jules (Samonte). Kailangan talaga na matapos namin un conference ng maayos.”
PLDT closes out its elims campaign against Petro Gazz on Tuesday.
Legacion started out as PLDT’s playmaker for the first time in the absence of injured ace Rhea Dimaculangan and the veteran setter rose to the challenge, keeping the High Speed Hitters’ offense humming and in sync majority of the way.
She finished with 18 excellent sets and added four points to claim the best player of the game honors in a match that featured teams which came off a pair of tough five-set defeats. PLDT lost to Chery Tiggo last Saturday while F2 Logistics yielded to Choco Mucho last Nov. 23.
The big-hitting Davison topscored for PLDT with 22 points, including 18 on attacks and three blocks, while Dell Palomata came up with 11 points, marked by quick hits at the middle that helped key the team’s victory, while Samonte added nine markers.
F2 Logistics drew 14 points from Myla Pablo and 12 and 11 markers from Ara Galang and Ivy Lacsina but the Cargo Movers failed to sustain their big start then suffered a big blow when top hitter Jolina dela Cruz sustained injury in the second set, virtually stymieing their attacking game.
