ALL ABOUT REDEMPTION
PLDT is in basically the same situation it was at practically this same time of the year last year, when an undermanned Cignal team snapped the High Speed Hitters’ 15-game winning streak in an import-flavored PVL conference that ultimately denied them the chance for a third straight title.
Now, left as the only unbeaten team in the All-Filipino Conference, the High Speed Hitters will have their latest crack at the Super Spikers at 6:30 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, knowing that they cannot take Cignal for granted.
And the High Speed Hitters will be coming off just three days’ rest since beating formidable Akari last Thursday and this is something which coach Rald Ricafort feels gives his charges some sort of a disadvantage.
“They (Cignal) had a full week, I think, to prepare for us,” Ricafort said in Filipino. “While I have to give my players the day (rest on Friday), which will make it more difficult for us.
“Plus, they have their usual reliable personnel,” Ricafort said.
Cignal will come into the game still licking the wounds of its first setback in four games here, one dealt by rejigged Nxled.
The Super Spikers also opened with a three-game winning streak before that tumble against the Chameleons and Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Vanie Gandler is all too willing to lead them back on track in chasing a top-four berth.
Gandler has some redemption to do after being limited to five points against Nxled, a far cry from her 18.3-point average in the first three games. Erika Santos continues to deliver steady numbers, while setter Gel Cayuna keeps the offense fluid.
At 4 p.m., Nxled seeks its own redemption when it clashes with sister team Akari.
After being on the ugly end of an upset at the hands of Galeries Tower in a game that came after that brilliant performance against Cignal, the Chameleons battle the Chargers in the 4 p.m. contest with coach Ettore Guidetti’s squad listed as the solid pick to pin a fourth straight loss on listless Akari.
MJ Phillips and Djanel Cheng are expected to return and rejoin stalwarts Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, Chiara Permentilla and Lyann de Guzman.
Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, Fifi Sharma and Ced Domingo will be the main personnel for coach Tina Salak at Akari, which has been listed as one of the favorites in all pretournament reports but has so far underachieved.
