MANILA – PLDT High Speed Hitters secured their place in the PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals with a 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24 victory over ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Tuesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Savannah Davison finished with 34 points, built on 32 attacks and two service aces, to be adjudged Player of the Game as the High Speed Hitters became the sixth team to enter the round-of-8 of the tournament.
“I think we emphasized that we are playing good floor defense and really good blocking, so we just have to figure out where to put the ball, how to be smarter with it, and play out set of game,” Davison said after the match.
“I think, going into the playoffs, we had a mentality switch,” she added. “We are going into a do-or-die situation at this point, and we have seen a couple of upsets and we do not want it to happen to us so we just made sure to get the job done.”
Erika Mae Santos added 13 markers, with 11 coming from attacks, while Mary Joy Baron contributed seven markers, including four blocks, for the High Speed Hitters, which will battle Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the quarterfinals.
Down 23-24 late in the fourth set, the High Speed Hitters tied the score at 24-all courtesy of an attack by Davison before they finished the game with back-to-back hits from Santos and Fiola Ceballos.
Ilongga Glaudine Troncoso finished with 20 points, including 17 attacks, two service aces, and a block, while Guimarasnon Jovelyn Gonzaga added 11 markers for the Thunderbelles, which is now relegated to the play-in round.
Meanwhile, Akari Power Chargers clawed back from a set down to defeat the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-9. Negrense Christine Joy Soyud finished with 14 points, including 10 attacks.
Ivy Lacsina spearheaded the offense with 22 points, including 21 attacks and one block, while Gretchel Soltones and Camille Victoria contributed 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for Akari.
“Madami rin kaming pinagdaanan kaya talagang super inilabas talaga namin ‘yung emosyon namin sa larong ito,” Lacsina said. “Pang-boost din sa team namin itong panalo na ito.”/PN
