Barely taking a rest, PLDT buckles down to work in pursuit of a third straight win and a share of the lead against a Petro Gazz side setting out for the same mission but fresh from a four-day break as the High Speed Hitters and the Angels collide in the Premier Volleyball League All Filipino Conference in San Juan today (Thursday).
The two contenders got back into the thick of things after dropping their respective opening games with a pair of shutout victories, making their 6:30 p.m. encounter a clash of momentum. But it will also be about desire and determination as they try to bolster each other’s drive to the semis fast shaping up to be a wide-open race.
PLDT rebounded from a sorry five-set setback to F2 Logistics with three-set routs of Army and Chery Tiggo while Petro Gazz trampled Choco Mucho and Cignal after getting clobbered by Creamline.
But while the High Speed Hitters were tipped to get past the winless Lady Troopers, they didn’t expect to dispose of the erstwhile unbeaten Crossovers in three the other night. But they drew sustained firepower from Mary Anne Mendrez, Jovie Prado, Dell Palomata, Michelle Morente and Mika Reyes while seasoned playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan outshone counterpart Jasmine Nabor by producing 21 excellent sets, more than tripling the Crossovers’ measly combined six.
Kath Arado and Prado also connived in defense, coming through with 16 and 15 excellent digs, respectively, for the team’s total effort of 50, 20 more than their rivals, led by Mylene Paat and Buding Duremdes’ combined 16.
Arado also came up with 17 excellent receptions and Prado posted seven to spike a superb all-around performance as the High Speed Hitters poised themselves for another win at the Filoil Ecooil Center and a shot at the lead heading to the final half of the single round elims of the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
But the Angels are also on the rise, particularly with Grethcel Soltones regaining her old fiery form after putting up a 14-hit showing against the HD Spikers and scoring 11 points against the Flying Titans.
Remy Palmas has also stepped up with a topscoring 15-point outing the last time out while Aiza Pontillas and Jonah Sabah have been consistent scorers for the Angels, who are now responding well to coach Oliver Almadro’s strategies and play-patterns.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho, behind its tall troika of Kat Tolentino, Bea de Leon and Maddie Madayag, seeks to halt a two-game skid after an opening game win over Akari as it faces Army in the 4 p.m. opener.
But the Lady Troopers are also raring to check a slump of three straight losses although coach Randy Fallorina will have a lot of motivating to do to draw the best from Mary Ann Esguerra, Ivy Perez, Sarah Gonzales, Nene Bautista, Lutgarda Malaluan to provide the needed support from hitters Honey Royse Tubino and Jeanette Villareal.
Games are telecast live on One Sports, One Sports+, Cignal Play, and SMART Live Stream and on pvl.ph.
