The PLDT High Speed Hitters and Chery Tiggo Crossovers joined opening-day winners Akari Chargers and Petro Gazz Angels on the second day of the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The High Speed Hitters, still smarting from their heartbreaking exit in the Reinforced Conference overcame the Nxled Chameleons in the curtain riser, while the Crossovers outlasted the Capital1 Solar Spikers at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday.
PLDT Uses Fast Start to Repel Nxled
The PLDT High Speed Hitters used a strong start, bucked a rocky third set, and showed steady nerves in the fourth to edge out the Nxled Chameleons, 25-15, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22.
Savi Davison, back after a one-conference hiatus, was in form in her return, delivering 19 points on top of 9 excellent receptions for PLDT, who also got 15 points from Erika Santos, 13 from Fiola Ceballos, and 10 from Dell Palomata.
Rookie Angge Alcantara, pushed into a starter’s role in her debut, proved steady, chipping in 13 excellent sets. PLDT’s defense was also in midseason form with 16 big blocks, with 7 coming from middle blocker Majoy Baron.
Chiara Permentilla’s 21 points on 21 attacks paced the Chameleons, who have lost eight straight dating back to the last conference.
PLDT and Nxled will jump right back to action next Tuesday, with the former taking on Galeries Tower High Risers and the latter facing ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Chery Tiggo Survives Capital1 in Five-Set Thriller
The Chery Tiggo Crossovers and Capital1 Solar Spikers went toe-to-toe in the first five-setter of the PVL All-Filipino Conference, with the Crossovers outlasting the Solar Spikers, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 15-11.
Without key players, EJ Laure, Eya Laure, and Buding Duremdes, Chery Tiggo turned to Ara Galang, Cess Robles, and Shaya Adorador to do the heavy lifting. Galang was particularly sensational, delivering 23 points on 18 attacks on top of 4 blocks and an ace. Robles, on the other hand, chipped in 12 points with 27 excellent digs.
The Crossovers also got big contributions from Mary Rhose Dapol and Seth Rodriguez, who sparked Chery Tiggo’s inspired fourth-set comeback.
Leila Cruz, the inaugural draft’s second overall pick paced Capital1 with a career-high 20 points, while Patty Orendain and Heather Guino-o chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
Chery Tiggo and Capital1 return to action on November 21 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. The Crossovers will face the Cignal HD Spikers, while the Solar Spikers will tangle with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Action Shifts to San Juan
The PVL All-Filipino Conference will go to the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday, November 14. The Choco Mucho Flying Titans and Galeries Tower High Risers will look for their first win in the curtain riser. The Akari Chargers, meanwhile, will go for win no.2 against the debuting Zus Coffee Thunderbelles.
