POWER SHIFT?
Every time PLDT takes on dynastic Creamline, the High Speed Hitters just seem to embrace the challenge and rise to the occasion.
The High Speed Hitters didn’t flinch in their latest clash with the Cool Smashers and a 25-22, 25-17, 25-23 victory over the 10-time PVL All-Filipino champions on Thursday night could signal a huge power shift as the straight sets win was pulled out, even with Jia de Guzman and Bernadeth Pons making their Creamline comebacks.
“Every time Creamline is the opponent, we welcome the challenge,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino. “Our players know it’s always a big game, especially with Jia and Pons back. We have high respect for them, so the focus was really there.
“The momentum from our training camp also helped and we’re very happy with the result.”
Savi Davison led the PLDT charge with 26 points, half of them coming in the first set when the High Speed Hitters imposed their will.
Davison admitted that she was intimidated at first seeing a complete Creamline and facing Alas captain De Guzman for the first time in the PVL.
But the Filipino Canadian hitter stayed in the zone before heaping praises on the Creamline setter later.
“Her hands are really hard to read,” said Davison, who also had 11 digs and 10 excellent receptions.
“That coming out, the whole lineup together, I don’t think I’ve seen that since the first year I was here,” Davison said of the roster that dominated the PVL since it became a pro league.
Ricafort believes that keeping his core intact after winning two titles last year gave them the edge against Creamline in that game and whichever team they will play moving forward.
Same mindset
Creamline also did a facelift in the offseason with De Guzman and Pons returning. Jema Galanza is also back from a foot injury that sidelined her in Reinforced and new libero Jen Nierva made her debut.
“Even though we lost Dell (Palomata), who is playing in Indonesia, the mindset we developed during the Reinforced Conference carried over,” Ricafort said. “The goal was for the players to gain from that experience going into the All-Filipino. Even if we’re missing one (veteran in Palomata), our core remains solid.”
PLDT, which had a training camp in Japan, is also starting to build a formidable connection under Ricafort’s system that started in 2023.
“As they stay longer in the system, maturity and patience become more evident,” Ricafort said. “We’re trying to build that psychological edge every game, but it’s still a learning process for us.
“Our goal was simple—focus only on (the game at hand),” said Ricafort.
Old reliables Kianna Dy, Mika Reyes, Majoy Baron, setter Kim Fajardo and libero Kath Arado delivered, while Jovie Prado stepped up as a starter with rookie Alleiah Malaluan feeling under the weather.
PLDT battles Capital1 on Thursday next week at the same venue in San Juan City, while Creamline hopes to bounce back against sister team Choco Mucho on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
