PLDT's High Speed Hitters may have missed out on the chance to compete in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals, but head coach Rald Ricafort remains optimistic about their future.
Ricafort's team put up a strong fight against defending champions Petro Gazz, pushing them to the brink in the semifinals before ultimately falling short in a three-set loss. Despite the defeat, Ricafort gave praise to his players for their efforts, and he had good reason to be proud.
The High Speed Hitters had a disappointing showing in the previous import-laden conference, but they bounced back in the All-Filipino Conference with a vengeance. In the elimination round, they racked up six wins against just two losses, securing third place in the standings.
Their victories included impressive wins over powerhouse teams like Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, Cignal, Choco Mucho, Akari, and Army-Black Mamba, and they lost just one game to fellow semifinalists F2 Logistics, who would go on to compete in the championship match.
Despite their strong showing, Ricafort was quick to remind his players that their job was not yet finished. While the semifinal loss was a disappointment, they still had a chance to claim the bronze medal in the battle for third place against F2 Logistics.
"At the start, it wasn't that positive because we came from a loss but they understood," Ricafort said. "Our realistic goal was to make it to the semis and we were able to push that. We even went to game three today. But even though there is some regret, I reminded them that the job is to finish this properly so it's back to work tomorrow."
Ricafort's message of perseverance and dedication was not lost on his players, who remained upbeat despite the setback.
While their ultimate goal of winning a championship will have to wait for another day, they can take pride in what they have accomplished and look forward to what lies ahead.
