Easy work: PLDT demolishes ZUS Coffee for back-to-back wins
KIANNA Dy and PLDT treat the Isabela crowd on Thursday, scoring a 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 victory over ZUS Coffee in the PVL Season 10 Siklab series at the Santiago Sports Arena in Santiago.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL
Games on Tuesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs Akari
3:30 p.m. — ClearSkiiin vs AFP
6 p.m. — Nxled vs Choco Mucho
PLDT put on a show in a clinical dismantling of ZUS Coffee, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16, for back-to-back wins and a return to the mix in the tight semifinals race in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 10 Siklab series on Thursday at the Santiago Sports Arena in Isabela.
Barely breaking a sweat in the 84-minute one-sided affair, the High Speed Hitters flexed their firepower and precision to improve to a 2-2 win-loss record while keeping the Thunderbelles winless.
Savi Davison was the lone PLDT player in double figures but the High Speed Hitters got well-distributed scoring from the rest of the crew.
PLDT assistant coach Manolo Refugia lauded his wards for showing up in top form and followed their gameplan to a tee.
“We’re happy we were able to execute our game plan. We’re able to get the right mindset even after we were down following our two consecutive losses. So we’re very happy,” said Refugia, who took over the coaching duties alongside Arnold Laniog while head coach Rald Ricafort is still recovering from an illness.
The two-time champion club pounded 44 points on attacks compared to just 29 of ZUS Coffee and was solid on net defense with six kill blocks. PLDT’s quick work was also aided by the Thunderbelles’ 24 errors.
“We got our groove back but the challenge now is to stay consistent and maintain this winning run. The fire from the coaching staff and players is back so we could return on the right track,” Refugia said.
Davison had 12 kills and a kill block to lead the High Speed Hitters’ assault. The Filipino-Canadian winger also contributed well on floor defense with nine excellent receptions.
Kim Kianna Dy scored all of her eight points on kills, including the game-winning spike while Jessa Ordiales and Dell Palomata added six points each for PLDT.
The High Speed Hitters found resistance from ZUS Coffee, particularly on the net, in the early going of the first two sets before figuring out how to break the Thunderbelles defensive scheme.
“ZUS Coffee had very good athletes in the middle of the court, and it’s our job to work around it,” Davison said.
“So, I’m glad that we kind of set it up properly and that we came out strong and, you know, we came up to the challenge.”
PLDT was in full control of the third and even established a 20-13 separation.
ZUS Coffee showed signs life after scoring back-to-back points to trim its deficit to just five. The High Speed Hitters nipped the uprising in the bud with a 4-0 counterattack to reach match point, 24-15.
Setter Kim Fajardo sent her service long in the next play but Dy quickly got the point back for the finisher.
The Thunderbelles dropped their fourth straight outing to join Galeries Tower at the cellar.
Zam Nolasco scored nine points on seven kills, one ace and one kill block while AC Miner finished with five markers for ZUS Coffee. Jolina dela Cruz and Chai Trongcoso got four points each while veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga was held down to just three points.