Savi Davison knows the PLDT High Speed Hitters will have its hands full against the Creamline Cool Smashers. She is also looking forward to the challenge.
The High Speed Hitters kept their 2026 PVL Invitational Conference campaign alive by beating the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25‑16, 25‑22, 23‑25, 25‑20, on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, setting up a marquee matchup with the Cool Smashers on Sunday.
Davison powered PLDT with 32 points in the victory, but the bigger challenge now awaits.
With their Finals hopes hanging in the balance, the High Speed Hitters need to get past Creamline and hope the remaining results fall in their favor.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s whoever comes wanting it more. It’s really up in the air. I feel like anybody could win that game. So, it’s, you know, whoever wants it more,” said Davison.
Savison Ready for Santiago-Minowa, Creamline
The matchup will also give Davison her first chance to face Jaja Santiago‑Minowa, who returned to the PVL for a short stint with Creamline after establishing herself as one of Japan’s top middle blockers.
Santiago‑Minowa won two Best Middle Blocker awards in the Japan SV.League after her previous PVL stint in 2021, and her 6‑foot‑5 frame adds another major weapon to an already loaded Creamline roster.
Davison, however, does not want PLDT to get too caught up in one player.
“Matangkad siya, tapos malakas siya talaga. Pero, it’s just another person on the court for us. Like, we can’t just focus on one person kasi ang dami nila,” she said.
“Kasi there’s so much talent on that team that you can’t really isolate one person like that. You know, it’s just an added talent, of course. Pero lahat sila. Like, they’re all good.”
Creamline’s strength goes well beyond Santiago‑Minowa, with Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, and Tots Carlos continuing to provide a steady offensive presence throughout the tournament.
The Cool Smashers also bring a championship pedigree that PLDT knows all too well, having collected 11 titles across 20 PVL conferences.
PLDT Cannot Afford to Be Intimidated
For PLDT captain Kath Arado, the defending champions cannot afford to be intimidated by that history.
“Creamline is Creamline. Sila na ’yan. Sila nagcha‑champion; sila magkakasama. Matagal na silang magkakasama. Nakakapagod silang kalaban pero well ganon talaga trabaho namin ito eh so kailangan namin pagbutihan pa kung gusto namin manalo. Kailangan namin mag‑focus kung gusto namin manalo,” said Arado.
PLDT also has little time to recover, coming off four consecutive games in the tournament. Still, Arado believes fatigue cannot become an excuse with a Finals berth at stake.
“Ang kailangan naming isipin ngayon: back to zero ulit kami. Nanalo kami ngayon, back to zero, kailangan namin magtrabaho, kailangan namin pagaralan kasi pare‑parehas lang naman kaming pagod, wala kami dapat ireklamo sa game namin against Creamline.”
For Davison, the equation is simple: PLDT has one more game to make its case.
And against a Creamline side loaded with stars, she welcomes the opportunity to see how the High Speed Hitters measure up.
