PLDT recovers, clinches QF spot

CANDON City, Ilocos Sur — Upset over its lackluster second-set showing, PLDT regrouped and unleashed a powerful display of net defense to overpower Galeries Tower, carving out a 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, 25-21 victory in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Candon City Arena here on Saturday.

The High Speed Hitters, determined to bounce back after their brief stumble, turned the match into a showcase of defensive brilliance. Their airtight blocking stood as the cornerstone of their triumph, shutting down the Highrisers’ attacks and stifling their rhythm in the third and fourth sets.

Even at less than peak form, PLDT still proved too much for the winless Galeries Tower squad, rolling to a third straight victory after a stunning shutout loss to sister team Cignal last 21 October that snapped their 15-game winning streak — a run that delivered them the PVL On Tour and Invitational titles.

With a 5-1 record, the High Speed Hitters are now assured of a quarterfinal slot, but coach Rald Ricafort’s team remains laser-focused on sweeping its last two assignments against Chery Tiggo on 15 November and Petro Gazz n 20 November to lock in a higher seeding.

Savi Davison erupted for 21 points, complementing Anastasiia Bavykina’s game-high 22 markers, but it was PLDT’s towering 15-block performance that ultimately dictated the outcome. The High Speed Hitters outblocked the Highrisers by a 10-point margin, erecting a virtual wall that frustrated Galeries Tower’s hitters all night.

Kim Dy, who finished with 12 points including four kill blocks, and Majoy Baron, who chipped in 10 markers, spearheaded the defensive stand alongside the ever-reliable Kath Arado, whose timely digs and floor coverage kept the team’s transition game flowing.