MANILA – Negrense Kiesha Bedonia stepped up offensively as PLDT High Speed Hitters ousted Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 21-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-19, in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The Talisay City, Negros Occidental-native Bedonia finished with 16 points, including 13 attacks, as the High Speed Hitters secured the No. 4 spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-2 win-loss slate.
“Sa akin po, ‘yung first po talaga ‘yung tiwala na binigay sa akin ng coaches sa buong game and pinakita ko lang kung ano ‘yung pinag-train-ningan namin and inano namin ‘yung goal namin,” Bedonia said.
“Sobrang laking bagay po sa akin kasi na-boost din ‘yung confidence ko and ‘yung pang wala ng pressure every game,” added the 21-year-old former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws players.
High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort, for his part, said that the former Bacolod Tay Tung High School standout served as the team’s “magic bunot” if their usual starters struggled with their points.
“Kahit nung last conference naman, siya ‘yung bunot. Siya ‘yung immediate namin eh,” said Ricafort. “Ayaw ko rin naman na agad-agad ibigay ‘yung mabigat na pressure with starting pero kung gagana din naman agad, ‘yun naman talaga role niya.”
Meanwhile, Negrense Bernadeth Pons continued her fine showing for Creamline Cool Smashers as they made quick work of ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 25-17, 25-15, 25-22.
The Talisay City, Negros Occidental-native star tallied a double-double of 11 points and 12 excellent digs as the Cool Smashers will head to the quarterfinals as the No. 3 seed with their 6-2 win-loss slate.
Erica Staunton led the way with 17 points, Lorie Lyn Bernardo added eight points, while middle blocker Bea de Leon chipped in four points, including two crucial kill blocks for Creamline.
Asaka Tamaru led the Thunderbelles with 16 points, while Michelle Gamit, Ypril Tapia, Gayle Pascual, Cloanne Mondonedo, Dolly Verzosa and Sharya Ancheta combined for 17 markers. They ended the conference with 0-8 record./PN
