The 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference is off to a promising start for PLDT, as the High Speed Hitters have claimed victory in their first three matches. But despite the perfect record, the team is staying grounded, aware that the road ahead is long and unpredictable.
"Actually, yung results nung past three games hindi masyadong nakaka-affect sa'min eh," said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort. "Nandoon pa rin kami talaga sa mindset kung paano namin i-look forward yung mga stronger teams." For Ricafort and his squad, the early wins—against Nxled, Galeries Tower, and Capital1, who have yet to register a win—are viewed as bonuses rather than the end-all.
“Ayun nga nabanggit ko kanina, bonus na lang na nagiging easy wins pero dagdag na lang talaga na may momentum kami going to those hard games,” Ricafort added. The coach's focus remains firmly on the challenges that lie ahead, as the High Speed Hitters prepare for matchups against tougher opponents.
This cautious optimism is a direct result of lessons learned from last season’s All-Filipino Conference. In the previous edition, PLDT started strong with a 7-1 record but faltered in the final stretch, losing their last three games to Chery Tiggo, Cignal, and Creamline, ultimately missing out on the semifinals. The memory of that collapse remains fresh in their minds, making the current momentum feel all the more important.
But this time, there’s a renewed sense of resolve within the PLDT camp. With a six-month schedule for the conference, the team feels that they have the time to pace themselves, making sure to stay sharp without burning out.
“Sobrang nakakatulong ‘yung schedule kasi naba-balance out namin lahat—from pahinga to scouting to individual to team preparation, so okay yung schedule namin,” said Ricafort. The extended timeframe gives PLDT more opportunities for rest, practice, and analysis, a luxury they didn’t have in previous years.
The coach also emphasized the benefits of the current match frequency, noting that their once-a-week schedule provides a good balance for the players' recovery and readiness. “Okay kami kasi once a week lang kami naglalaro. So sana ma-maintain kahit sa mga susunod na conferences para yung health din ng players maging 100 percent hanggang dulo.”
