PLDT shuts finals door on Creamline
PLDT ace Savi Davison bests Jaja Santiago-Minowa and Creamline in a five-set thriller to end the 2026-2027 PVL Invitational Conference preliminary round.
Photograph courtesy of PVL
Text size
Share
PLDT ace Savi Davison bests Jaja Santiago-Minowa and Creamline in a five-set thriller to end the 2026-2027 PVL Invitational Conference preliminary round.
Photograph courtesy of PVL
Share
Dethroned PLDT played the spoiler’s role and denied Creamline entry to the championship match with a hard-fought 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12, win to end the preliminary round of the 2026-2027 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Savi Davison carried the High Speed Hitters through with career-high 37 points laced with 24 receptions and 18 digs. The Filipino-Canadian hammered 35 kills, including the game-winning spike, and two kill blocks.
PLDT finished the round with a 3-2 win-loss, tied with its victim and Nxled.
However, the Chameleons took the last finals seat behind a superior match point earned compared to the two other squads for a breakthrough championship appearance against Thailand guest team Est Cola on Tuesday.
The High Speed Hitters face the Cool Smashers again in the one-game battle for third.
“It was exhausting. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to where we wanted to be, which is to go to the finals. But the mindset of our players and the team is to play whatever game it will be. Facing Creamline, of course, is very challenging. We bring out the best in each other,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said.
“We want this win and we’ll prepare for them on Tuesday.”
Kim Kianna Dy and Jovielyn Prado scored 14 points while Mika Reyes finished with 11 markers for PLDT.
The High Speed Hitters brought the momentum of their thrilling fourth set escape into the decider as they raced to a 12-7 lead.
Creamline refused to go down without a fight and battled its way back to close the gap, 13-11, after a Jaja Santiago-Minowa hit.
Dy sent PLDY to match point before Minowa saved a point. Davison sealed the two-hour, 37-minute win with a kill.
The Cool Smashers suffered a second straight defeat after a strong 3-0 start.
Minowa had 25 points on 15 kills, nine kill blocks and an ace while Jema Galanza posted 20 points, 16 digs and 16 excellent receptions in a losing cause.
Michele Gumabao chipped in 11 markers while Alyssa Valdez finished with seven points and 14 excellent receptions for the 11-time PVL champion.
