Ho Chi Minh City finally got on the board in the 2026 PVL Invitationals, and it did so by taking down the defending champions.
The Vietnamese side stunned the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 28‑26, 19‑25, 25‑21, 25‑16, on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to snap a two‑game losing streak and improve to 1‑2 in the tournament.
Dang Thi Kim Thanh led the way with 19 points built on 17 attacks and 2 aces, while 16‑year‑old Ho Thi Bich Diep added 18 points as Ho Chi Minh City repeatedly found openings against the High Speed Hitters.
Le Thi My Xuyen and Dao Thi Nung also contributed 14 points apiece, helping the Vietnamese squad maintain its composure after dropping the second set.
“During this event, not just this match, we came in as the underdogs, and we knew we were going to face tough competition from the very beginning,” said Dang.
Ho Chi Minh City Breaks Through
Rather than dwell on their first two losses to Farm Fresh and Creamline, Ho Chi Minh City entered the matchup focused on playing its own game.
“For today’s match, we wanted to relax and play our game instead of worrying about who we would play against or what we needed to do. We wanted to focus more on what we needed to improve within ourselves,” she added.
That approach paid off as Ho Chi Minh City finished with a 64‑57 advantage in attacks and edged PLDT, 10‑9, in blocks.
Nguyen Thi Hoai Mi also kept the offense moving with 23 excellent sets and 3 points, while Hoang Thi Thanh Ngoc contributed 11 excellent receptions and 9 excellent digs.
What’s Next
The Vietnamese side will try to build on the upset when it faces the Nxled Chameleons on Friday, September 4, at 4:00 p.m. at the same venue.
PLDT, meanwhile, dropped to 1‑2 after suffering its second straight loss.
Kianna Dy delivered her strongest outing of the tournament with 25 points from 22 attacks, 2 blocks, and an ace, while Savi Davison posted 16 points, 19 excellent receptions, and 14 excellent digs.
Kim Fajardo finished with 23 excellent sets, while Kath Arado anchored the floor defense with 23 excellent digs.
The High Speed Hitters will look to get back on track against the Farm Fresh Foxies on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
