PLDT let the adrenaline flow all throughout after a lengthy wait to start a campaign but needed to toughen up in the stretch to repulse Akari, 25-15, 25-19, 25-22, in a duel of debuting Group A teams in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference elms at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday.
Dragged into a tight finish by the dogged Power Chargers, the High Speed Hitters got their act together with Erika Santos foiling Trisha Genesis’ attack, leading to the one-hour, 31-minute victory that put them behind the front-running Creamline (2-0) in a frenetic race to the semis.
“Sobrang excited to play at lahat naman (ng teammates) very supportive, kaya konting adjustment, konting gelling na lang,” said Tubino.
Dell Palomata dominated the net and scored 14 points, Jovie Prado and Michelle Morente took care of the wings and finished with 13 and 11 hits, respectively, while Jessey de Leon matched Tubino’s output as the High Speed Hitters overpowered the Power Chargers, 48-34, in spikes.
Akari produced more blocks, 9-6, but struggled on service reception as it yielded six aces. The High Speed Hitters also scored 14 points off their rivals’ miscues while giving up 10 points of their own.
Eager to get going after drawing a late start in the mid-conference offering of the league, which kicked off Tuesday, the High Speed Hitters took command early, 7-2, 11-4, and never looked back on their way to an emphatic 10-point win in the opening set.
And while the Power Chargers kept it close in the next two frames, the High Speed Hitters, third placers in the recent All-Filipino Conference, showed their poise and banked on their experience in the clutch to complete the straight-set victory.
The Power Chargers had hoped to sustain their last-ditch fightback spiked by back-to-back points to threaten at 22-24 in the third and were looking to pull within a point after holding off the High Speed Hitters’ assault in the ensuing play.
But Santos, together with Palomata, came through with a timely block, clinching the win for PLDT while leaving Akari frustrated after working its way back into the contest.
Dindin Manabat unleashed a 9-hit game and finished with 10 points while Genesis added nine markers but Princess Madrigal, rookie Faith Nisperos and Eli Soyud could only combine for 15 points for the Power Chargers.
