PLDT looks to cap off their dominant PVL on Tour run with a championship.
‘Almost but not quite’ has been a common theme for the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the Premier Volleyball League.
More often than not, the High Speed Hitters’ campaigns could have easily been altered by one more game, one more point, or even one more set. At this point, to say that it’s heartbreaking may already be an understatement.
However, those heartbreaks would also pave the way for PLDT’s long-awaited breakthrough that came in the form of a PVL on Tour finals berth. By dispatching rival Creamline in a five-set classic, the High Speed Hitters are now guaranteed to make a franchise-best finish.
“Siguro nga ‘yun talaga ‘yung tumibay sa amin, ‘yung mga experience na ganon na almost. Tsaka ayun nga, inaako naman kasi ng bawa’t tao kung ano ‘yung pagkukulang namin individually and as a team,” reflected team captain Kath Arado, who turned emotional once Savi Davison nailed the finals-clinching kill for PLDT.
Since rejoining the PVL in 2021, the High Speed Hitters have made the Final Four thrice, but have always fallen a game short of securing a podium finish. One game also spelled the difference in three of the four conferences that they missed the quarterfinal rounds entirely.
“So every training, parang one game at a time talaga kami eh, hindi namin nilu-look forward kung ano ‘yung magiging result ng bawa’t isa. Talagang aim namin ‘yung mas mag-improve, ano pa bang kulang namin nung mga past experience namin na almost nga,” Arado continued.
“So ‘yun talaga ‘yung naging motivation namin para kung ano man ‘yung naging result ngayon, ‘yun talaga ‘yung parang hugot ng team eh.”
True enough, PLDT’s growth was evident throughout the PVL on Tour, where they only dropped one set prior to facing Creamline in the conference semifinals. Crucial to their success is the gradual recovery of their core, including Kim Kianna Dy, Jovie Prado, and even Kim Fajardo.
Even more impressive, PLDT’s dominant run started amid Savi Davison’s vacation in Canada, along with the absence of rookie Alleiah Malaluan and Dell Palomata due to Alas Pilipinas commitments.
“Yun nga po, sobrang thankful kami, kasi nga ‘yun nga, nakukumpleto kami eh, so every kahit nasa training, talagang ‘Oh kumpleto na tayo!’ Sobrang saya namin kasi syempre, isa sa hindrance ng team namin is ‘yung injury eh,” Arado reflected.
“Malaking bagay siya sa amin na ‘yung sabi ng mga coaches samin before nag-start ‘yung game na maganda kundisyon ng katawan namin, ‘yung parang alaga, alaga sa katawan, tsaka ‘yung disiplina ng katawan na iwasan muna ‘yung ganito. Sacrifice talaga ‘yung nangyari.”
A new shade
PLDT is now set to face the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the PVL on Tour finals this Sunday, August 17, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Similar to them, the Crossovers have authored an impressive run throughout the preseason tilt, which is fueled by a balanced attack under head coach Norman Miguel.
More than facing a formidable foe, head coach Rald Ricafort believes that their upcoming matchup is also a reflection of the PVL’s growing level of competition. After all, the Crossovers dispatched a perennial contender in Cignal, while PLDT overcame the league’s gold standard in Creamline to book the championship bout.
“Maganda na naka–ikot. Ganun naman talaga, kasi kami din naman dinanas din namin ‘yung kami ‘yung may kulang, and sadyang this conference lang talaga nakumpleto. Nakahabol si Savi, naka-perform ulit sila Kianna, and sila Kim, nakabalik din,” Ricafort said.
“Siguro ‘yung ganong matchup lang, dun mo makikita na ‘yung lebel ng PVL, umaangat na rin talaga lahat. So itong mga nasa gitna, nasa ilalim, unti-unti nagi-improve tsaka gumagaling naman. So ‘yun na siguro ‘yung nagiging result, na nakakahabol na talaga.”
But the job is far from finished for PLDT, who only needs one more win to rule the PVL’s preseason tilt.
“Move on agad dito sa panalo. Nandiyan din ‘yung Chery sa finals dahil tinrabaho din nila, maayos din ‘yung tao nila. Nakabalik na din sila Imee, tapos maganda ‘yung mga na-pick up nila from the draft, pati si Ara, so malaking bagay na maka-prepare, move on, tsaka focus kami [on the finals].”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.