Back in service: Davison helps PLDT regain its winning ways

Games on Tuesday:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

1 p.m. — Akari vs Farm Fresh

3:30 p.m. — AFP vs VNS

6 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Galeries Tower

Savi Davison pumped in a game-high 28 points to help PLDT snap out of a two-game funk in a hard-earned, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21, victory over Capital1 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 10 Siklab series Saturday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.

The High Speed Hitters finally barged in the win column in their third attempt to tie idle Akari in sixth to seventh spot in the standings.

Davison scattered 23 kills, four kill blocks and an ace to lead PLDT, which played sans head coach Rald Ricafort, who was feeling under the weather.

“I think we kind of woke up and realized that everyone’s getting better every single day and this season is going to be a long and hard season considering the people that we have to go up against. And we really had to push ourselves in practice in the last week to wake ourselves up and I’m just glad it came to fruition. We finally won,” said the Filipino-Canadian, who actually ended up with a triple-double after tallying 18 excellent receptions and 10 digs.

Kim Kianna Dy added 11 points, Alleiah Malaluan chipped in nine points while Dell Palomata scored eight points, including the game-winning kill block over Solar Spikers’ main gunner Bella Belen.

Davison smashed three attacks in the High Speed Hitters’ crucial 6-2 scoring blitz, which turned a 14-14 deadlock in the fourth set into a 20-16 PLDT lead.

The High Speed Hitters opened a 23-18 gap but got a serious scare after Belen sparked Capital1’s three straight points to close in to within two.

Dy quelled the uprising with a crosscourt kill before Palomata timed Belen’s spike for the finishing kill block that ended the two-hour, 28-minute encounter.

“I feel like we all kinda came into this game knowing that we had something to come back from. And it’s more ourselves than anything. So, I’m glad that we pushed each other during practice this week. And going into this game, we had the right mindset. So, I’m just glad we came out and played to our best,” Davison said.

Decorated libero Kath Arado tallied 27 digs while setter Angelica Alcantara dished out 15 excellent sets to initiate the High Speed Hitters’ 62 attack points.

The Solar Spikers played in just four sets for the first time in the conference after three straight five-setters. They ended, however, on the losing side, which halted their back-to-back romp.

Capital1 slipped into the middle of the pack with an even 2-2 slate.

Belen listed a fourth straight triple-double output with 23 points on 20 kills and three aces to go with 10 digs and 19 excellent receptions in a lost cause for the Solar Spikers.

Vanie Gandler got 15 of her 16 points on attacks and contributed 16 excellent receptions. Erika Santos added 15 markers for Capital1, which gave away 20 points on errors.