MANILA — PLDT High Speed Hitters finally broke through in the Premier Volleyball League, clinching their first-ever championship through a hard-fought 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8 victory over Chery Tiggo in the On Tour finals on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The High Speed Hitters leaned on the exploits of Mika Reyes and Mary Joy Baron in the fifth set as they delivering key blocks that turned the momentum back in their favor.
The Crossovers, however, tried to stay alive with a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to 8-14 before Kim Kianna Dy stepped up for the High Speed Hitters by blocking the attempt of Chery Tiggo’s Princess Robles to seal the crown.
The victory capped an immaculate 8-0 sweep for PLDT and came with a ₱1 million prize. Runner-up Chery Tiggo received ₱750,000 while bronze medalist Creamline Cool Smashers took home ₱500,000 courtesy of Sports Vision.
“Kapit sa isa’t isa – that’s what kept us together,” said Reyes, who also bagged Finals MVP honors after tallying 20 points. “Even when we were making errors and losing patience, we just held on to each other.”
Savannah “Savi” Davison powered the High Speed Hitters with 23 points, while Baron and Dy added 13 apiece, while Negrense Kiesha Bedonia delivered six points, including some crucial conversions in the fifth set.
Veteran setter Kim Fajardo orchestrated the offense for the High Speed Hitters with 25 excellent sets, while four-time Best Libero Kath Arado contributed 29 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Head coach Rald Ricafort, who guided the franchise to its long-awaited breakthrough, credited both the players and the supporters.
“After everything we’ve been through, we finally got this championship. The fans believed, and we believed in each other,” Ricafort said.
Victonara Galang led the way with 22 points for the Crossovers, Ilongga Robles added 12 markers, Imee Hernandez tallied eight pointsz while rookies Renee Peñafiel and Jyne Soreño combined for 11 markers./PN
