WEAK CONNECTION: High Speed Hitters fall short after scaring Thais

Thai club Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C displayed grace under pressure after surviving PLDT’s gritty fightback in a 26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 15-9 escape in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The visiting squad weathered Filipino-Canadian Savi Davison’s explosion in the High Speed Hitters’ spirited rally from two sets down to complete a sweep of Pool D.

Finishing as top seed in the pool, the Thai powerhouse booked a quarterfinal showdown against Pool A leader Creamline on Thursday.

American import Anyse Marlee led Nakhon Ratchasima with 20 points anchored on 16 attacks, three kill blocks and an ace while Evangelia Chantava and veteran Onuma Sittirak provided enough support to down the home crowd-backed PLDT.

“I just wanted to help our team stay focused and bounce back during the rallies,” Sittirak said.

“We needed to concentrate to finish the match.”

Nakhon Ratchasima proved steadier in the final frame, shattering an 8-8 deadlock with a blazing 7-1 closing run, capitalizing on the High Speed Hitters’ errors and clutch hits from Saowapha and Kaekawalaya to seal the win and preserve their unbeaten slate in the group stage.

Davison scored 21 points off 18 attacks, two blocks, and an ace for the High Speed Hitters, who clawed their way back from a deep hole only to fade in the end.

Cuban import Wilma Salas chipped in 16 markers from 15 attacks and a block, while Kianna Dy added 10 points in the losing effort.

PLDT finished second in Pool D with a 1-1 card will take on Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu.

High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort remained upbeat despite the loss.

“Like I told the team before the match, as long as we give our all, we’re okay regardless of the result,” Ricafort said.

“It’s high level playing the champions of Thailand. At least we got to go through a tough match before facing another strong team from Kazakhstan. We’ll take this challenge — we gained experience and we’ll use that to keep performing and working.”

After falling behind 0-2, the High Speed Hitters fought back in the third set with a balanced offensive and defensive effort. Salas delivered the attack that put them at set point before Davison hammered a booming kill to take the frame.

PLDT opened the fourth set on fire with a 6-1 start, but Nakhon Ratchasima countered with a 5-0 run to level at 6. PLDT regained control with contributions from Dy, Salas and Davison, eventually building a six-point cushion, 19-13.

A kill block from Dy capped the set for the High Speed Hitters, sending the match to a decider.

Meanwhile, VTV Binh Dien Long An of Vietnam bounced back from a heartbreaking collapse against Beijing Baic Motor, shaking off a slow start to dispatch Iran’s Saipa Tehran, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-15, in Pool C.

Still stinging from squandering a two-set lead in their loss to Baic Motor on Monday, the Vietnamese squad regrouped and punched in a strong finish to secure the No. 2 spot in their group behind the unbeaten Chinese side. That sets up a tough quarterfinal matchup against Pool B top seed Kaohsiung Taipower.

Over in Pool A, Zhetysu showed no signs of letting up following its sweep of Creamline the night before, romping past Jordan’s Al Naser, 25-10, 25-15, 25-11, to complete a dominant group-stage sweep.

The Kazakh champs were in total command, leaving Al Naser with little room to breathe as they closed pool play unbeaten and on a high heading into the knockout stage.