PLDT kept its comeback surge ringing loud and clear, silencing Creamline's own resounding charge with a gripping 25-19, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23 victory in a two-hour volleyball thriller before a highly appreciative crowd at the Philsports Arena in Pasig late Thursday night.
It was a victory forged in grit, character and composure, as the High Speed Hitters weathered one challenge after another before finally breaking through against a Cool Smashers side that refused to go quietly.
Unlike in their victories over Capital1 and ZUS Coffee, which snapped a shaky two-game skid, the High Speed Hitters’ third straight triumph demanded much more than a strong finish. It required nerves of steel, timely execution and an unwavering resolve against one of the league's most battle-tested teams.
And when the tension reached its peak, it was Creamline that blinked.
In an ending worthy of the high-quality volleyball displayed throughout the night, seasoned setter and multi-awarded playmaker Jia de Guzman misjudged a crucial ball, gifting PLDT the match point after the Cool Smashers had fought back from the brink of defeat.
Creamline was on the verge of forcing a fifth set after clawing back from a 19-23 deficit in the fourth, with Bernadette Pons, Pangs Panaga and Tots Carlos combining for a stirring 4-1 assault that suddenly put the High Speed Hitters on pins and needles.
The rally brought the Cool Smashers within striking distance and threatened to undo all of PLDT's hard work.
But after a tense exchange, Pons unleashed a set-tying blast that sailed through the arms of Mika Reyes before bouncing near Creamline's right sideline. De Guzman raced after the ball, initially tracking it before changing her mind, apparently convinced it was headed out.
It wasn't.
The ball landed just inside Creamline's court, leaving the Cool Smashers stunned and PLDT clinching the hard-earned two-hour, seven-minute victory.
Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses then challenged a possible net touch in a desperate bid to keep the match alive and delay PLDT's celebration. But the video review showed that neither Reyes nor Kim Dy had touched the net, sealing the High Speed Hitters' dramatic triumph.
The victory gave PLDT its third consecutive win following back-to-back losses, allowing it to draw level with Choco Mucho and Farm Fresh in the standings while ending Creamline's four-game winning streak.
The result also left Nxled as the league's lone unbeaten team at 4-0, setting up an increasingly fierce scramble for the semifinal berths with just two weeks remaining in the single-round elimination phase.
Savi Davison spearheaded PLDT's attack with 22 points, delivering several crucial blows when the pressure was greatest.
The Fil-Canadian ace also shone on defense with 19 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs. But it was middle blocker Dell Palomata who earned Best Player of the Game honors after finishing with 13 points on an impressive 67-percent attack efficiency.
“It was a collective effort, and we just showed what we've been working on in training," said Palomata in Filipino when asked how they prepared to face a team riding a four-game winning streak.
Acknowledging their struggles in a second-set loss, Palomata pointed to unforced errors as the culprit, but quickly emphasized how the team bounced back in the third frame to complete the victory.
Palomata proved particularly instrumental in the fourth-set stretch, unloading two quick attacks that helped PLDT establish a 23-19 cushion and put the High Speed Hitters within striking distance of closing out the match.
Creamline, however, had other ideas. True to its reputation, the Cool Smashers mounted another spirited rally, turning what appeared to be a comfortable PLDT finish into a nerve-racking showdown that tested both teams' resolve.
The High Speed Hitters wavered but refused to crumble. And when the decisive moment arrived, they seized the opportunity – with a costly misjudgment from one of Creamline's most accomplished players providing the final twist to an absorbing night of volleyball.
For PLDT, it was another emphatic statement that its resurgence is no fluke.
For Creamline, it was a painful reminder of how fine the margins can be in a contest where two determined teams left virtually nothing on the floor.
Alleiah Malaluan finished with 10 points, delivering crucial hits in the earlier sets, while Dy and Reyes contributed eight and six points, respectively.
PLDT and Creamline were evenly matched in the attacking department, finishing with 60 attack points and seven blocks apiece. The Cool Smashers, however, held a slight edge in service aces, 4-3.
But Creamline's inconsistent performance proved costly, as the Cool Smashers surrendered 27 points off errors while managing to score just 18 points from PLDT's miscues – a telling difference that ultimately helped seal the outcome.
Pons led the 11-time champions with 14 points, while Bea de Leon added 11 and Jema Galanza chipped in nine. Lorie Bernardo contributed eight points, while Alyssa Valdez, Panaga and Michele Gumabao finished with seven points each.
Kim Fajardo orchestrated PLDT's offense with 17 excellent sets, just three shy of de Guzman's total, while sharing the playmaking duties with Angge Alcantara.
