PLDT outlasts UAI-Army

Games Tuesday:
(Philsports Arena)
2:30 p.m. — F2 Logistics vs Chery Tiggo
5:30 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs Choco Mucho

PLDT turned to Russian import Elina Savkina-Samoilenko's crisp spiking to outlast Army, 17-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-11, 15-11, in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna Saturday.

The 6-foot-4 outside spiker smoked the defense of the Lady Troopers with missiles as she made her presence felt by dropping 35 points hinged on 32 attacks off 80 attempts.

Savkina-Samoilenko took over at crunch time, scoring seven points in the fifth set including the game-winning back row attack.

"I told Elina to just play her game and always ask for the ball especially in the crucial part of match. I also told Rhea (Dimaculangan) to maximize Elina," High Speed Hitters coach George Pascua said.

Meanwhile, Cignal gave newcomer Akari a rude welcome with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-16,  victory behind American import Tai Bierrria.

Bierria uncorked 20 points and had plenty of help from the locals with Roselyn Doria chipping in 13 markers and Glaudine Trongcoso adding 12 points for the HD Spikers.

Toni Rose Basas got 11 points and 14 digs while Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata and Fiola Ceballos scored 10 each for PLDT. Dimaculangan dished out 21 excellent sets that helped the High Speed Hitters convert 66 attack points.

Despite rotating at the back line with the fifth frame tied at 8, PLDT made sure to feed Savkina-Samoilenko the ball as the High Speed Hitters took a 12-10 advantage off a back row hit by the reinforcement.

Mika Reyes scored on the next play for PLDT before Army committed an error that put the High Speed Hitters at match point, 14-10.

Dimaculangan bricked her serve but Savkina-Samoilenko capped the win with a powerful smash.

Canadian import Laura Condotta and Royse Tubino had 17 points each for Army.