DYNASTY IN THE WORKS
From how things stand, PLDT is establishing its PVL dynasty. And not even a foreign squad could stop the High Speed Hitters.
Bucking early struggles and a great challenge from a young Kobe Shinwa University from Japan, the High Speed Hitters on Sunday night completed another perfect title run, this time pocketing the Invitational Conference crown less than a month after their breakthrough title.
With local volleyball’s pride at stake, PLDT rallied late in the middle two sets to dodge the upset axe and deny gritty Kobe Shinwa, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, in their winner-take-all finale at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Savi Davison led the High Speed Hitters to a second straight championship, as PLDT became the first team in PVL’s rich history to sweep back-to-back tournaments.
Davison poured in 20 points on top of 18 excellent receptions and nine digs, her heroics late in the second set proving critical.
Kianna Dy also rose to the occasion, backstopping the Filipino Canadian hitter with 17 points that counted four blocks, highlighted by the title-clinching rejection.
Two weeks removed from their maiden PVL title in the On Tour, Davison and Co. still played with the hunger needed for another championship and extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.
It wasn’t as easy as their first meeting when they swept the Japanese squad, which has an average age of 19, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23, in the preliminary round.
But PLDT still found a way to defend home turf, pouncing on the lapses of Kobe Shinwa.
The High Speed Hitters erased a 21-19 deficit in the third frame before Kobe Shinwa tied it at 22-all. Dell Palomata broke the tie with a quick attack before Davison’s ace and Malaluan’s block put them on the cusp of another championship with a 2-1 lead.
With momentum on its side, PLDT displayed its killer instinct in the fourth as Dy and Palomata led the High Speed Hitters to a 17-12 spread.
Palomata and Malaluan, who missed the On Tour due to Alas Pilipinas duties, pushed the High Speed Hitters closer to the title with a 23-14 spread.
Mika Reyes sent her squad to championship point 24-16, which Dy converted with that block.
Malaluan, the rookie, finished with 15 points. On Tour Finals MVP Reyes had 12 points. Kim Fajardo tossed 29 excellent sets on top of three points, while Kath Arado had 22 digs.
PLDT completed a second set comeback from a 21-18 deficit, earning three set points, 26-25, until Kobe Shinwa held the advantage twice. But Davison put the High Speed Hitters ahead twice before Kokoro Yasuma overcooked her attack that allowed the Filipinos to tie the game at one set apiece.
Kobe Shinwa finished the tournament with two losses both handed by PLDT. The Japanese won four games to make the title match.
Nagisa Komatsuda, the best outside spiker, led the Japanese with 22 points. Kokoro Yasuma and Reira Miyazaki had 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Sakura Furuta was hailed as the Best Setter and delivered 31 excellent sets.
Bronze medalists
After missing the final for the second straight tournament, Creamline still left everything on the floor, dominating Chery Tiggo, 25-15, 25-13, 25-22, for the bronze medal—the club’s 19th consecutive podium finish.
Back-to-back third-place finishes counting the one in the On Tour, has Creamline motivated.
“Our motivation has always been to win the championship,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses told the Inquirer in Filipino. “We’ll enjoy getting third place, but we’re also challenging ourselves to climb back to a higher spot on the podium (next conference).”
