But it was nothing but smooth for the much-favored High Speed Hitters, who had to dig deep into their arsenal to fend off the determined Thunderbelles, battling from the brink in the fourth set to secure a hard-earned 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24 victory.
Savi Davison turned in yet another spectacular performance, matching her career-best 34-point explosion from PLDT’s Feb. 15 thriller against Creamline. She punctuated her dominant outing with a clutch crosscourt kill that kept the High Speed Hitters alive in the fourth set.
With PLDT pressing forward, Erika Santos unleashed a powerful hit following a well-executed defensive play, shifting the momentum in their favor. A miscue on ZUS Coffee’s end then set up Fiola Ceballos, whose attack from the left side clipped the net and fell out of bounds – sealing PLDT’s victory after a grueling one-hour, 50-minute battle.
The win secured the High Speed Hitters a best-of-three quarterfinal matchup against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, promising another intense showdown.
Meanwhile, Akari, which earlier avenged its loss against Farm Fresh, is set to face an upset-minded Galeries Tower. League powerhouses Creamline and Petro Gazz, the top two seeds, will square off against the last two teams advancing from the play-in tournament.
Despite facing a relentless defensive stand from ZUS Coffee, the High Speed Hitters relied on their experience and strategic adjustments to weather the storm. Davison acknowledged the challenge posed by the Thunderbelles' strong blocking and floor defense, emphasizing the need for smarter ball placement and better control in high-pressure moments.
“We knew we were up against a solid defensive team, so it was about figuring out where to put the ball and being more strategic with our attacks,” said Davison. “It was a tough match, but we stayed in control and got the job done.”
ZUS Coffee came out firing in the opening set, catching PLDT off guard. But once the High Speed Hitters settled in, they imposed their offensive dominance, leading in spikes (57-49) and blocks (10-8). Both teams were evenly matched in service aces (5-5).
“We had to switch our mindset heading into the playoffs,” added Davison. “It’s do-or-die at this stage, and we’ve already seen upsets. We made sure to focus on our game and execute.”
While Davison shouldered the scoring load, Santos provided solid support with 13 points. The rest of the squad, though facing struggles against ZUS Coffee’s tight defense, contributed when it mattered. Majoy Baron finished with seven points, while Kiesha Bedonia and Kim Fajardo chipped in five apiece. Dell Palomata added four markers, underscoring PLDT’s depth despite a challenging contest.
On the other side, Chai Troncoso led ZUS Coffee with 20 points, backed by Jovelyn Gonzaga’s 11. Chinnie Arroyo and Thea Gagate contributed nine points each, while Michelle Gamit added eight.
The loss was a tough setback for the Thunderbelles, who had appeared poised to pull off a monumental upset – akin to the Galeries Tower Highrisers’ stunning victory over the third-seeded Cignal HD Spikers. However, they struggled to maintain composure down the stretch, faltering in key moments and ultimately falling into the play-in tournament.
While ZUS Coffee showed grit and resilience, particularly in the first and fourth sets, the High Speed Hitters leaned on their deeper rotation and wealth of experience to shift the momentum in the second and third frames.
PLDT’s balanced attack, orchestrated by Fajardo, who finished with 15 excellent sets, exposed the Thunderbelles’ vulnerability in floor defense and passing, allowing their wing spikers to consistently exploit mismatches at the net.
Their experience proved invaluable, especially in tight moments when ZUS Coffee attempted to rally. Veterans like Baron and Palomata provided a strong net presence, neutralizing ZUS Coffee’s hitters and forcing them into difficult attacking angles. T
he High Speed Hitters also displayed superior composure in extended rallies, capitalizing on the Thunderbelles' reception struggles to generate quick points off transition plays.
Despite ZUS Coffee’s efforts to keep pace in the fourth set, PLDT’s depth and tactical discipline became the difference. After racing to a 7-3 lead, PLDT fended off multiple mini-runs by the Thunderbelles, with coach Rald Ricafort making timely adjustments to maintain their grip on the game.
With the win, PLDT extends its streak to five, including four victories in the preliminaries – highlighted by a thrilling five-set escape against the erstwhile unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers. More importantly, they secure their quarterfinal slot with a growing sense of confidence and momentum heading into the next phase of the tournament.
