MANILA – PLDT High Speed Hitters secured their place in the PVL Invitational Conference Finals after sweeping Japan’s Kobe Shinwa University, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23, on Monday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The High Speed Hitters improved to a 4-0 win-loss slate with their third straight-set victory in the week-long tournament and 11th overall, including their PVL On Tour title campaign.
“Ang pinaka-inaasahan talaga namin ay ‘yung respetuhin ang laro ng Japan – ‘yung mga long rallies at ‘yung sobrang ganda ng floor defense nila,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort.
“Kaya ni-remind namin ang team tungkol sa patience, lalo na’t nasubok na kami dati. Mayroon na kaming basehan, pero iba talaga ang ganitong klaseng experience. Masaya kami na kahit paano, nakakuha kami ng panalo laban sa Japan,” he added.
Playmaker Kim Fajardo, who had 20 excellent sets and was named Best Player of the Game, credited their discipline for the result.
“Ginawa lang namin ang trabaho naming – disiplina at respeto sa kalaban,” said Fajardo, who added four points. “Nasa amin ang momentum ngayon, at sana magtuloy-tuloy pa.”
Savannah Davison led the High Speed Hitters with 17 points, while Alleiah Malaluan and Mika Reyes added 12 and 11, respectively. Majoy Baron and Kim Dy chipped in six and five points.
Nagisa Komatsuda paced Kobe Shinwa with 21 points, Arisu Ishikawa finished with eight, while Kokomo Yasuma, Yuia Yamano, and Reira Miyazaki contributed seven apiece as the Japanese side dropped to 1-1.
Meanwhile, Dawn Macandili-Catindig starred on defense as Cignal HD Spikers snapped its skid with a four-set victory over a depleted ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-19,.
Macandili-Catindig who returned to action alongside fellow Alas Pilipinas standout Vanie Gandler, anchored the HD Spikers’ floor defense with 18 excellent digs and 15 receptions to help the team earn its first win in the tournament after three straight losses./PN
