CEBU City – PLDT turned the opening set into a blocking clinic, unleashed a strong finishing kick in the second, then pulled away midway in the third to complete a commanding 25-11, 25-17, 25-21 sweep of Nxled – and clinch the first outright quarterfinal berth in Pool A of the PVL On Tour Saturday at the packed USJ-Recoletos Coliseum.
It was a statement win by the High Speed Hitters, who dismantled a Nxled squad that had made early waves with three straight victories, including reversals over two fancied teams. But against the league’s most disciplined and balanced squad, the Chameleons found themselves overwhelmed from start to finish.
There were tense moments late in the third set as Nxled capitalized on consecutive double contact errors by Kim Fajardo and a string of miscues in PLDT’s passing game, narrowing the gap to 21-24 after a quick attack by Jaycel Delos Reyes.
But Kiesha Bedonia, who had earlier brought the High Speed Hitters to match point with a powerful spike that capped a long and gritty rally, sealed the deal with another emphatic hit. Nxled challenged the point, contesting whether the ball had landed in or out, but the video review confirmed that the ball landed cleanly inside Zone 5, formally stamping PLDT’s straight-set, one-hour and 32-minute triumph and its unimpeded march to the quarterfinals.
Majoy Baron, who scored 13 points built on 11 attacks and two blocks, attributed their success to the team’s consistency and cohesion.
“We just played our game and executed what we’ve been training for – and now we’re seeing the results,” said Baron in Filipino.
Bedonia led PLDT’s balanced attack with 15 points, while Kim Dy celebrated her 30th birthday in style, chipping in nine points, matching the output of fellow middle blocker Mika Reyes. Jovie Prado also made her presence felt with seven markers, adding depth to the High Speed Hitters' multi-pronged offense.
PLDT’s dominance was evident across all departments. The High Speed Hitters outgunned the Chameleons in attacks, 40-29, overwhelmed them at the net with a 13-5 blocking edge, and served up five aces while the Chameleons failed to register even one.
Late in the third set, Savi Davison made a brief but promising appearance to the delight of the fans, converting her first attack after a long layoff and adding another hammer to finish with two points, possibly hinting at a complete and even more fearsome frontline rotation for PLDT moving forward.
On the other side, EJ Carino paced Nxled with 11 points in just two sets, stepping up as Lyann De Guzman, who had previously erupted for back-to-back 20-point performances against Petro Gazz and Choco Mucho, was held to just nine markers.
Jovielyn Fernandez also found little room to operate and managed only five points, as the Chameleons were stifled by PLDT’s suffocating net defense from start to finish.
Baron formed a menacing frontcourt wall alongside Reyes and Dy. The trio made life difficult for Nxled’s hitters, constantly shutting down angles and forcing rushed shots.
Backstopped by superb floor coverage and the steady hand of Fajardo, who finished with 18 excellent sets, the High Speed Hitters turned defense into seamless offense, underscoring their evolution into a well-oiled, title-worthy machine.
Having earlier swept Farm Fresh and Petro Gazz, then outlasted Choco Mucho in four, PLDT is not just winning – the High Speed Hitters are peaking. Their fourth straight win not only secured a quarterfinal slot but also amplified whispers about their growing credentials as a top title contender.
Coach Rald Ricafort continued to rotate his deep bench with precision, maximizing a roster that blends veteran leadership with youthful fire.
Meanwhile, the loss stalled Nxled’s march to the next round, as the Chameleons slipped to 3-1 – just slightly ahead of the 2-1 Farm Fresh Foxies in the race for the second automatic quarters spot.
Reyes and Dy immediately made their presence felt with three consecutive kill blocks in Set 1, powering the High Speed Hitters to an early 6-1 advantage and shaking the confidence of Nxled’s spikers, including De Guzman.
Unable to get their rhythm going, the Chameleons became increasingly tentative with their offensive execution, second-guessing their hitting angles and options in the face of PLDT’s unrelenting wall at the net.
Things only got worse for Nxled as Baron joined the fray, further tightening PLDT’s net defense. With Baron timing her jumps to perfection and closing gaps with her fellow blockers, the High Speed Hitters ballooned their lead to a staggering 17-3.
Nxled’s struggles were epitomized by Chiara Permentilla’s attack error, as her attempt to glance the ball off the blockers’ fingertips missed the mark entirely.
Coach Ettore Guidetti of Nxled tried to shake things up, cycling through strategies in hopes of breaking through PLDT’s towering stance. But every adjustment seemed to meet a familiar fate – blocked, deflected, or disrupted. The Chameleons could only momentarily halt the bleeding, trimming the deficit to 11-23 after De Guzman converted a two-handed freeball putaway.
However, any glimmer of momentum was quickly extinguished. A service error by De Guzman followed by a thunderous quick kill from Baron sealed the deal for PLDT, ending the set in emphatic fashion after just 25 minutes.
The High Speed Hitters' dominance at the net not only dictated the tempo but completely dismantled Nxled’s offensive game plan – highlighting the gulf in net defense between the two sides.
Nxled came out swinging in Set 2 with renewed aggression, keeping the set tightly contested and matching PLDT point for point in the early goings. The insertion of Carino into the rotation provided much-needed composure and stability, allowing the Chameleons to briefly take a pair of two-point leads, the last at 9-7.
But once PLDT regained control at 14-11, courtesy of a quick middle attack by Baron, the High Speed Hitters, who drew added strength from a real-life test of resilience, having been stranded for hours at their training gym in Quezon City during Monday’s severe flooding brought on by relentless monsoon rains, never looked back.
