PLDT may have kept its semifinal bid on track, but the High Speed Hitters know they must make significant adjustments and regain their top form heading into next week's crucial showdown with Choco Mucho.
Against a Galeries Tower side already out of the semis race, PLDT had to dig deep and withstand a spirited challenge before pulling off a 25-13, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18 victory in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Saturday.
The High Speed Hitters had expected resistance from the Highrisers, but admitted that lapses in focus and stretches of complacency allowed their rivals to force a fourth set.
Ace libero Kath Arado, who anchored PLDT's floor defense with 22 excellent digs to earn Player of the Game honors, credited Galeries Tower's defensive effort while acknowledging her team's need to be more consistent.
“Credit to Galeries Tower. Ang ganda talaga ng defense nila. We knew they would put up a fight because we had watched their previous games and saw how well they played,” said Arado.
“We knew it wouldn't be an easy game. But our adjustments, particularly with our service game, made the difference in the end,” she added.
The victory served as an important bounce-back for PLDT following its five-set setback to Farm Fresh last Tuesday. More importantly, it pulled the High Speed Hitters level with the Flying Titans at third place, both carrying identical 4-3 records and setting up a virtual knockout showdown on Nov. 19 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena for a coveted semifinal berth.
Galeries Tower, meanwhile, slipped to 1-6.
With the stakes considerably higher against Choco Mucho, Arado stressed that PLDT must carry the lessons of its escape against the Highrisers into its preparations and avoid another stretch of complacency.
Arado said the team's immediate priority is to sharpen its execution and sustain its intensity from the opening serve to the final point.
“That's one of the biggest lessons we'll take from this game. We cannot afford to be complacent against Choco Mucho,” she said.
“We have to take it one point at a time because we know they won't simply give us the game. We need to work hard in training and identify the other aspects of our game that we still need to improve,” she stressed.
PLDT appeared headed for a comfortable victory after dominating the opening set, capitalizing on Galeries Tower's erratic play and imposing its advantage at the net. But the High Speed Hitters lost some of their edge in the second, allowing the Highrisers to stay within striking distance and eventually steal a set before PLDT regained control in the fourth.
The High Speed Hitters opened the final frame with an emphatic 8-1 run and stretched their advantage to 15-7. Galeries Tower threatened to rally midway through, but PLDT responded with a strong finishing kick to close out the match.
Savi Davison once again spearheaded PLDT's offense with 21 points and added 16 receptions, taking charge in the crucial stretches of the match. However, she was unable to finish the contest after landing awkwardly late in the fourth set and sustaining a slight ankle injury.
The Highrisers made one last stand, saving three match points following Davison's departure, before Jessa Ordiales delivered a thunderous attack to seal the one-hour, 54-minute victory and keep PLDT firmly in the Final Four hunt.
The upcoming showdown promises to be a stern test, with Choco Mucho also building momentum after surviving a five-set thriller against Creamline last Thursday. The Flying Titans' escape and PLDT’s win over Galeries Tower further heightened the importance of their Nov. 19 encounter.
Kim Dy and Dell Palomata finished with 10 points apiece, while Ordiales added eight as PLDT dominated Galeries Tower in attacks, 57-47.
Anchored by Palomata’s four blocks, the High Speed Hitters also controlled the net with a 14-7 advantage in blocks. They capitalized on 23 free points while committing 21 errors of their own.
Erika Deloria and Jean Asis led Galeries Tower with 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Aiza Pontillas and Jade Gentapa matched nine-point outputs.
PLDT's early dominance was evident in the opening set, where its superior firepower and net defense overwhelmed the Highrisers. The High Speed Hitters outhit Galeries Tower, 15-9, and collected seven free points from their opponents' errors while committing just three of their own.
But the momentum shifted in the second as PLDT's intensity dipped, allowing Galeries Tower to turn what appeared to be a one-sided contest into a tight affair and even seize the lead briefly.
The High Speed Hitters eventually regained their composure and moved to set point at 24-20 on Dy's rejection of Alyssa Bertolano. The Highrisers answered with three consecutive attacks behind Pontillas and Bertolano, but Davison put an end to the rally with a back-row blast to give PLDT a commanding 2-0 lead.
Galeries Tower refused to fold, however, drawing strength from Deloria, Asis and Gentapa to outlast PLDT in a frenetic third-set finish. The Highrisers took the closing stretch, 6-3, capped by Gentapa's off-the-block hit to extend the match and expose PLDT's lingering vulnerabilities.
Those lapses may not have cost the High Speed Hitters against Galeries Tower, but against a resurgent Choco Mucho side, they could prove far more costly.
