The PLDT High Speed Hitters swept the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16, in the 026–27 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Santiago Sports Arena in Santiago, Isabela.
ZUS Coffee pushed PLDT early in the second set, but the High Speed Hitters went up 18-15 after an attack error by Jovelyn Gonzaga. Savi Davison stretched the lead to four with a powerful kill, and Gonzaga answered with two straight points to pull the Thunderbelles within two.
Dell Palomata then blocked Gonzaga to stop the run, and PLDT scored the next four points, including a Davison block on Gonzaga, for set point at 24-17. Zam Nolasco saved one set point, but Gonzaga’s serve hit the net to give PLDT a 2-0 lead in sets. The High Speed Hitters led from start to finish in the third.
With deputy coach Arnold Laniog again on the bench, Davison credited the team for handling ZUS Coffee’s size at the net.
“ZUS Coffee had very good athletes in the middle of the court, and it’s our job to work around it,” said Davison. “So I’m glad that we kind of set it up properly and that we came out strong and, you know, we came up to the challenge.”
Davison led the High Speed Hitters with 13 points.
For the Thunderbelles, Nolasco led the team with 9 points.
PLDT will next face the Creamline Cool Smashers on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. Earlier that day at 1:00 p.m., ZUS Coffee will try to bounce back against the Farm Fresh Foxies.
Creamline Sweeps Capital1
Later that day, the Creamline Cool Smashers beat the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 25-18, 31-29, 25-16.
Creamline led 19-9 in the second set before Capital1 stormed back behind Bella Belen and Vanie Gandler. The Solar Spikers erased the 10-point gap and tied the set twice, the second time at 22-22 when Bea De Leon sent a quick attack wide.
Bernadeth Pons put the Cool Smashers back in front with a combination play, but Creamline then wasted five set points. Kyle Negrito broke the deadlock with a setter dump to give them another chance. This time, Capital1 couldn’t control an overpass, and Ezra Madrigal’s soft quick attack sat up for Jema Galanza, who put it away for a 2-0 lead in sets. Creamline controlled the third set to close out the match.
“Based sa game ngayon, ang nangyari talaga is totally team effort,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“Napakaganda ng nangyari, especially nung second set medyo ‘yung situation, bumilis ‘yung momentum sa kabila. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ang mahalaga maka-recover tayo dun sa second set. Naging magandang experience sa’min, then third set nagtuloy-tuloy na,” he added.
Galanza led the Cool Smashers with a game-high 16 points on 14 attacks and 2 kill blocks, along with 11 excellent receptions. Off the bench, Pons added 11 points, all on attacks, and 8 excellent digs.
Negrito distributed 16 excellent sets.
For the Solar Spikers, Belen had 13 points and 9 excellent digs, while Gandler added 10 points and 13 excellent receptions.
Creamline will next face PLDT on Thursday, November 5, at 6:00 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig. Meanwhile, Capital1 will try to bounce back against the Nxled Chameleons on Saturday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
