Staying in the present key to PLDT bid for third straight PVL crown
PLDT has been unscathed in its last 17 PVL games thus far, a streak that started when the High Speed Hitters broke through as champions of the On Tour before ruling the Invitational Conference.
The last of those two wins opened up their hunt for a third straight title, but the High Speed Hitters are way beyond thinking of the past. No matter how glorious it was.
“It’s a new conference. Each team has a reinforcement, so, it’s really gonna be a different level,” said Kianna Dy after contributing nine points in their 25-21, 25-20, 25-19 sweep of Choco Mucho in the Reinforced Conference eliminations on Thursday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We just focus one game at a time. And just take it game by game,” added the crowd-drawer. “We’re not thinking of our back-to-back titles [anymore]. It’s a new conference, [stronger] teams, new players and reinforcements.”
Libero Kath Arado added that the team has embraced the mentality instilled by coach Rald Ricafort that they can’t look too far ahead and that they need to stay in the present.
“Coach tells us that as long as we do our jobs right individually, the results will follow,” the multi-awarded Arado said in Filipino. “That’s really our focus, just doing the work. As a group, everyone’s present and committed.
“And when it comes to in-game adjustments, the coaches are always there,” she added. “They always tell us: ‘As long as you’re present, it’s easy for us to teach you.’”
The High Speed Hitters are working on a dynasty, for all intents and purposes.
“Maybe there’s still some confidence left from when we won the championship, but we’ve set that aside because this is a new conference,” Arado continued. “We know the other teams have prepared well, so we can’t afford to stay stagnant we have to keep improving and learning.”
Arado and Dy were also pleased to see Anastasiia Bavykina gelling well with the team, as the locals led by Invitational MVP Savi Davison have been displaying a balanced attack with the Russian hitter in their first two wins.
“Our main goal is not to rely too much on Nastiia,” Arado bared. “We need to be able to step up on our own. Coach always reminds us: it’s about the long term. We need to learn from Ana, not just depend on her.”
PLDT shoots for a third straight win against struggling sister team Cignal on Tuesday. And there’s no doubt who the favorite there is.
“We’ve been complete for a while now. We used the last conferences to really build our gelling inside the court,” Dy said. “Plus, Nastiia is very easy to get along with and she clicked right away with the team so that made it easier.”
Ricafort wants his wards to stay hungry, as it will be tough winning a third straight championship this year.
“Even if we’ve started strong, we can’t look too far ahead,” Ricafort said. “It’s really a day-by-day, game-by-game mindset. Whoever we’re facing next, that’s who we focus on completely.”
