PVL: PLDT bags second consecutive win vs. Galeries Tower

The PLDT High Speed ​​Hitters finally grabbed their second straight win against the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 27-25, 25-22, 25-23, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference held on Tuesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

PLDT defeated the Galeries in three straight sets where the Filipino-Canadian spiker Savi Davison led the game and exploded 28 points, five of which she fired in the High Speed Hitters’ 10-2 finishing kick in the third set to snatch the victory, followed by former De La Salle Lady Spiker Erika Santos with 14 points.

During her first game a week ago, she finished with a team-high 19 points, along with nine excellent receptions in PLDT’s four-set win over Nxled.

“I think in my second game, I was a little bit more comfortable with how I moved around. I felt that I almost regained the trust of my teammates after coming back after missing the last conference. That felt really good, and I just feel better all around. I’m kind of just getting back to the groove of things. I honestly had no idea that I had that many points, but I’m just glad how it all transpired,” said Davison in an interview.

Davison also admitted that while she’s recovered fully from the injury, it’s the mental effect of it that she is still working on.

“Coming back from an injury, I can’t really pretend like it didn’t happen. You got to almost apply the things that you learned while sitting out to coming in back,” Davison explained.

“I think, overall, just my mentality of things is at a good 80 percent. I’m just glad that it’s not up and down and all around and I’m freaking out and all of that stuff, especially with the crowd here in the PVL,” she added.

Aside from Davison, the High Speed ​​Hitters’ Dell Palomata had five markers, Fiola Ceballos with three points, and rookie setter Angge Alcantara also showed her mettle by contributing three points. 

Before winning the third set, the Galeries had a big lead, 21-15. However, PLDT gradually caught up with it through a block point made by Davison.

PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort was not happy with their performance and their slow start.

According to Ricafort, he believed his team must learn how to start stronger, be consistent in their play from start to finish, and avoid late-sets that are definitely more tiring.

This is what happened in their match last night where they finished the third set with a 10-2 run, which is why the Galeries did not reach the fourth set.

“Hindi dapat umabot sa ganon eh, ‘yung maghahabol pa kami ng malaki kung na-control namin yung start pa lang. Ang reminders ko sa kanila katulad nung sa Nxled, hindi porket nag up na kami ng 2-0 medyo may complacency. Hindi nila sinasadya pero nasosobrahan siguro yung pagkarelax. Yung mga ganung runs, happy kami na nakuha pa rin namin pero kung maiiwasan sana, mas magawan namin ng paraan next time,” said coach Ricafort. 

Meanwhile, PLDT will face Capital1 next Tuesday, November 26, while Galeries has a chance to bounce back if they win against ZUS Coffee on November 28, both in Philsports Arena in Pasig City.