Riding high after their thrilling upset of the unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers, the High Speed Hitters showcased their firepower, with Savi Davison dropping 17 points after a career-high 34 against the defending champions last week.
Supported by Majoy Baron (10), Erika Santos (8), Mika Reyes (7) and Fiola Ceballos (4), PLDT overwhelmed the youthful Thunderbelles before a packed crowd at the City of Passi Arena in Iloilo to close out the prelims with an 8-3 (win-loss) record.
Now set for a knockout rematch with ZUS Coffee, which finished the prelims at No. 9 with a 4-7 mark, PLDT holds a clear edge. While anything can happen in do-or-die matches, the Thunderbelles face an uphill battle against the in-form High Speed Hitters, who are already looking ahead to the quarterfinals and tougher competition ahead.
The qualifying round begins on Thursday, with the six winners advancing to the best-of-three quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the losers will battle it out in a play-in tournament for the remaining two QF spots.
PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort expressed satisfaction with his team's straight-set victory, praising the players who stepped up.
“Our mindset is to perform well for our next opponent,” said Ricafort, emphasizing their focus on avoiding complacency as they aim for the championship.
Davison echoed the sentiment, noting their strong finish and momentum heading into the playoffs:
“We’re happy to end the round with a win and carry the momentum into the playoffs,” she said.
Ater cruising through the first two sets, PLDT turned a tightly contested third set – that featured six early deadlocks – into another show of dominance. An Angge Alcantara 1-2 play ignited a crucial 8-2 run, pushing the High Speed Hitters to a 14-8 lead.
ZUS Coffee fought back, briefly cutting the deficit behind Thea Gagate’s putaway, but PLDT quickly regained control. A relentless surge, capped by a Majoy Baron quick attack, sealed the victory in just one hour and 16 minutes, leaving the Thunderbelles reeling.
Chai Troncoso led ZUS Coffee with nine markers, while Michelle Gamit and Thea Gagate finished with eight and six points, respectively.
The High Speed Hitters dominated in all aspects of the game, outscoring ZUS Coffee in spikes (43-30), blocks (7-3), and serves (5-4). They also capitalized on the Thunderbelles' 20 errors while committing 14 themselves.
Kath Arado led the defense with 16 excellent digs and five receptions.
“We were all ready because we prepared for ZUS as a team, with each one focused,” said Arado, emphasizing their collective effort and strong preparation against the Thunderbelles.
PLDT set the tone early in each set, surging ahead with a well-balanced offensive attack, swift quick hits and solid kill blocks. However, the Thunderbelles displayed remarkable resilience, proving to be formidable challengers as they fought back with determination, only to falter when the pressure intensified.
In the opening set, the High Speed Hitters raced to leads of 7-2, 14-10 and 18-14 before pulling away with three consecutive points, capped by a crafty placement tip from Fiola Ceballos that widened the gap to seven.
Despite trailing, the Thunderbelles refused to back down, clawing their way back to 19-23 after a sharp cross-court hit from Jovelyn Gonzaga.
But when it mattered most, Savannah Davison took over, delivering back-to-back kills, including a decisive strike at the end of a thrilling rally, sealing the set for PLDT and giving them the early upper hand.
The second set unfolded in a similar fashion, with the High Speed Hitters quickly wresting control, surging to leads of 9-4 and 12-6 before extending their advantage to 20-14, capitalizing on a miscommunication by the Thunderbelles.
With a comfortable lead, PLDT coach Rald Ricafort made a late double substitution, bringing in Kim Dy, who wasted no time making an impact. The former La Salle standout showcased her finesse, deftly tipping the ball over two blockers to push the High Speed Hitters to set point.
Dell Palomata then sealed the frame in emphatic fashion, firing a powerful quick attack to the baseline to put PLDT firmly in command.
