PLDT shoots for early share of lead

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Nov 18, 2024 01:21 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The High Speed Hitters gun for their second straight win in their 6:30 p.m. tussle with the Highrisers with hopes of joining the Akari Chargers at the helm. 

PLDT shoots for the early share of the lead when it squares off with Galeries Tower on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The High Speed Hitters gun for their second straight win in their 6:30 p.m. tussle with the Highrisers with hopes of joining the Akari Chargers at the helm.

Nxled and ZUS Coffee, meanwhile, collide at 4 p.m. as both try to dust off their bruised knees from their respective first-game defeats.

The Thunderbelles are fresh from a 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23 loss to the Chargers last Thursday, Nov. 14, while the Chameleons are nursing a 25-15, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22 defeat at the hands of the High Speed Hitters seven days ago.

PLDT bared its fangs against Nxled in that game with an all-around game particularly in the defensive department, where it provided rock-solid net defense and swatted away 16 blocks to complement its 58 attacks.

Majoy Baron and Erika Santos, who conspired for 10 blocks in that two-hour affair, is expected to take charge anew along with their offensive weapon in Savi Davison. 

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The Fil-Canadian outside hitter returned with a bang by spearheading the High Speed Hitters with 18 kills to finish with 19 points.

PLDT coach Rald Ricarfort took the first win as a good sign, but admitted it also showed them areas to improve on.

“It was a good start. Sayang hindi namin na-straight sets, so yun pa yung kailangan naming i-work on,” said Ricafort, who is also eyeing Dell Palomata and Fiola Ceballos to continue their impressive performances after finishing in double figures the last time.

Galeries Tower, for its part, wants nothing but to bounce back from back-to-back tought defeats against Akari in four sets and Choco Mucho in five where it failed to sustain its strong charge.

Showing promise in those two games, Highrisers coach Lerma Giron is expected to further push her stalwarts headed by Jewel Encarnacion, Ysa Yimenez, France Ronquillo and rookie Julia Coronel to unleash their potential against the High Speed Hitters’ seasoned players.