PLDT downs Creamline for breakthrough title appearance

Savi Davison played a monster game to carry PLDT to a breakthrough championship appearance in a 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10 come-from-behind victory over Creamline in the knockout semifinal of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Filipino-Canadian scored eight of her game-high 34 points in the fifth set as the High Speed Hitters remained unbeaten in seven outings in the pre-season tournament.

“It's surreal. You know, I can't wrap my head around it yet, maybe in an hour or two, but I'm sure tomorrow, when we start talking about it, I'll kind of connect, but I'm just proud of everybody. I'm proud to be a part of it all,” said Davison, who hammered 30 kills with two kills and two kill blocks while showing her defensive prowess with 16 digs and nine excellent receptions.

PLDT will face Chery Tiggo, which beat Cignal, 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, in the winner-take-all final on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Davison scored the High Speed Hitters’ first three points in the deciding frame to set the tone. Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza kept the Cool Smashers in the game with crucial kills to close in, 10-9.

But Davison answered with three straight kills before Valdez committed a costly error that put PLDT at match point, 14-9.  Creamline saved a match point only for Davison to send the Cool Smashers packing with a solid hit to end the two-hour, 26-minute match.

Kim Kianna Dy got 14 markers, Majoy Baron had nine points while Mika Reyes and Jovie Prado added eight each for PLDT. Kim Fajardo tallied 25 excellent sets while libero Kath Arado submitted 16 digs and 23 excellent receptions.

The Cool Smashers missed the championship for the firstv time since the 2022 Reinforced Conference.

Galanza finished with 20 points, Valdez got 18 markers 14 excellent receptions and 10 digs while Michele Gumabao and Pangs Panaga got 16 and 11 markers, respectively.