ILAGAN, Isabela – PLDT remained locked in since opening its PVL On Tour campaign with a sweep of Farm Fresh, and it didn’t let up against Petro Gazz, dismantling the listless Angels, 25-22, 25-15, 25-16, before a jampacked crowd at the Capital Arena here late Saturday.
Replicating the formula that crushed the Foxies, the High Speed Hitters turned in another clinical performance, this time at the expense of the reigning All-Filipino Conference champions, who are still visibly out of sync in the absence of Alas Pilipinas stalwarts Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips.
But even with their top guns available, the Angels would’ve had a hard time against a surging PLDT squad that continues to gel with remarkable fluidity, anchored on superb floor coverage, disciplined transitions, and an increasingly reliable net presence.
That turned what was expected to be a long, drawn-out contest into a surprising sweep.
But neither PLDT nor its fans were caught off guard, as the team’s improved cohesion was evident in every phase of the game – from crisp serve receives and pinpoint setting to their fluid transition from defense to offense.
Their floor defense – anchored by sharp first touches and smart coverage – allowed setter Kim Fajardo to run the offense with poise and consistency, providing attackers with quality opportunities and giving coach Rald Ricafort greater flexibility in setting up plays and rotating his lineup.
While they didn’t overpower the Angels in the attacking department – even yielding the opening set's spike count, 11-13, and barely edging the second, 9-7 – the High Speed Hitters more than made up for it with airtight blocking and composed execution from various sources.
Jovie Prado continued her steady return to top form following an injury, building on her nine-point effort against the Foxies with a 12-point explosion to earn Player of the Game honors.
“Sobrang worth it,” she said of their swift one-hour, 20-minute romp. “After everything I went through coming back from injury, this is exactly what I’ve been working for – to return to playing the way I know I can.”
Prado, who also shone in defense with 13 excellent receptions, also emphasized the importance of rising to the occasion in the absence of several key teammates.
“My mindset is to stay focused and fully present, especially with some players missing,” she said. “I know I really have to step up and do my part.”
The High Speed Hitters repeatedly shut down Petro Gazz’s wing hitters, with Majoy Baron and Mika Reyes forming a formidable frontline wall that stifled any rhythm the Angels tried to build.
Baron matched Prado’s 12-point output, capping her performance with three straight hits to seal the victory. Kim Dy also delivered with 10 points, while Kiesha Bedonia and Reyes chipped in nine and eight, respectively, highlighting PLDT’s well-balanced offensive attack.
Both Baron and Reyes anchored the net defense with three blocks apiece, while Fajardo finished with 14 excellent sets.
Myla Pablo paced Petro Gazz with 16 points but received little help, as only Jonah Sabete added significant support with nine markers. Aiza Pontillas was the next best scorer with just three points.
The numbers told the story: PLDT capitalized on Petro Gazz’s mounting miscues – nine unforced errors in the first set and 11 more in the second – while limiting their own to just 11 across those frames. Their ability to turn broken plays into scoring chances further highlighted their growing chemistry and tactical discipline.
PLDT tallied 38 attack points – eight more than Petro Gazz – and dominated at the net with 10 blocks compared to the Angels' four. The High Speed Hitters also edged their rivals in aces, 5-4, and capitalized on Petro Gazz’s miscues, scoring 22 points off errors while giving up just 15 of their own.
With the win, PLDT not only improved to 2-0 but also pulled level with idle Nxled atop Pool A, looking every bit a serious contender in this pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision after finishing fifth in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
The Angels fell to 1-2.
