All news tagged SaviDavison

The stage is set for the return of import action in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) as the 2025 Reinforced Conference fires off on October 7, featuring 12 professional teams eager to battle for supremacy.

At Thursday’s press launch in Pasig, PVL president Ricky Palou said fans can expect a heightened level of competition with foreign reinforcements joining the fray. 

“It’s going to be more competitive than usual because it’s Reinforced. We still have to see the caliber and skills of the imports, but whoever wins the championship, it’s anybody’s game.” Palou said. 

The tournament will conclude by the end of November to give way to the Philippines’ participation in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.

Imports Ready to Shine

All squads have retooled their lineups with international talents aiming to spark deep runs this conference:

Creamline: American spiker Courtney Schwan seeks redemption after back-to-back bronze finishes.

PLDT High Speed Hitters: Russian ace Anastasiia Bavykina leads their title defense.

Galeries: Montenegrin standout Jelena Cvijovic returns.

Nxled: Spanish hitter Paola Martinez Vela joins the lineup.

Akari Chargers: American Annie Mitchem bolsters their attack.

Capital1: Ukrainian Oleksandra Bytsenko leads the charge.

Chery Tiggo: Cuban veteran Yunieska Robles Batista powers their campaign.

Choco Mucho: American Anyse Marlee Smith joins the roster.

Cignal: Greek attacker Eva Chantava boosts their offense.

Farm Fresh: Belgian power hitter Helene Rousseaux strengthens the team.

Zus Coffee: American Anna DeBeer joins the squad.

Streamlined Tournament Format

Teams are divided into two pools and play a single round-robin within groups.

Top three teams per pool advance to the second round, facing only the bottom three squads of the opposite pool.

Rankings follow the FIVB system: total wins, match points, set ratio, and point ratio.

After the second round, all teams are re-ranked (1–12). The bottom four are eliminated, while the top eight move to the knockout quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches will all be one-game, do-or-die battles.

With powerhouse imports, revamped rosters, and a format designed for unpredictability, the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference is shaping up to be one of the league’s most competitive showdowns yet.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters stormed into their first-ever Premier Volleyball League (PVL) finals after rallying from a 1-2 set deficit to dethrone the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers in a gripping five-set thriller, 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10, Tuesday night, August 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Creamline appeared poised to extend its reign after taking the second and third sets, seemingly on track for a ninth straight finals appearance. 

But PLDT turned adversity into fuel as they roared back with a commanding fourth-set win before tearing though the Cool Smashers in the decider — leaving the 10-time league champions stunned and the crowd in disbelief.

Savi Davison was the undisputed hero of the night, exploding for 34 points built on 30 attacks, two blocks, and two aces, while adding nine excellent digs and nine excellent receptions. 

Her brilliance shone brightest in the fifth set, where she delivered eight points, including the first three and the final four — capped by a booming crosscourt kill that sliced through two Creamline defenders to end the two-hour, 12-minute battle.

PLDT ousted ZUS Coffee to advance to the semifinals with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-19 win in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour quarterfinals on Thursday night, August 7, at the Philsports Arena.

Savi Davison led the High Speed Hitters with 28 points built from 25 attacks along with 10 excellent receptions, while Kim Fajardo facilitated the offense with 19 excellent sets. 

PLDT High Speed Hitters had to be rescued from their training facility along G. Araneta Avenue in Quezon City after heavy rains from the southwest monsoon (habagat) left the flood-prone area submerged yesterday, Monday.

The team was stranded inside their gym since the afternoon, passing the time with meals and an improvised karaoke session while waiting for help. At around 9 p.m., the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Army arrived, safely evacuating players and staff via rescue boats.

“Maraming salamat po to our Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Army and our volley friends who assisted in rescuing our High Speed Hitters out of the Araneta Avenue area. We know your night is far from over and there are more people to help. We hope and pray you all return home safely. Again, thank you so much!”  the team expressed on social media. 

About an hour after the rescue, several players took to Instagram to share updates and further gratitude to their rescuers.

PLDT is scheduled to fly out in a few days for the Cebu City leg of the 2025 PVL on Tour, where they’ll put their unbeaten record on the line against co-league leader Nxled (July 26) and Galeries Tower (July 27).

The PLDT High Speed Hitters showcased grit and determination but ultimately fell short against Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Volleyball Club in a thrilling five-set match, 24-26, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 9-15, in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League on Tuesday, April 22, at the Philsports Arena.

After falling behind two sets to none, the High Speed Hitters mounted an impressive comeback, winning the third and fourth sets behind the efforts of Savi Davison and Cuban import Wilma Salas. Davison spearheaded the third-set resurgence, while Salas provided crucial support in the fourth to force a deciding set.

PLDT appeared poised for a breakthrough in the fifth set, pulling even at 8-all. However, a center line fault swung the momentum back to the Thai side, sparking a decisive 7-1 run from Nakhon Ratchasima that sealed the match. The rally was capped by a service ace, ending PLDT’s spirited challenge.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters kicked off their 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League campaign after overcoming a shaky start against the Australia’s Queensland Pirates, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday, April 20, at the PhilSports Arena.

Savi Davison powered the High Speed Hitters with 14 attack points while also registering eight excellent digs and three excellent receptions, earning the Player of the Match honors.

The Pirates dictated the early tempo, going on a 6-1 run in the opening frame. But the tide turned when Wilma Salas’s service ace shifted the momentum and handed PLDT their first lead of the match. 

Despite the Pirates’ efforts to regain control, the High Speed Hitters responded with urgency. Fiola Ceballos stepped up in the clutch, giving PLDT a 20-16 cushion. 

Although an out-of-bounds attack momentarily disrupted PLDT’s flow, Kim Kianna Dy’s relentless offense pushed the lead to 23-17. Dy eventually sealed the set with a powerful attack, completing the comeback.

PLDT secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference after overcoming ZUS Coffee in a hard-fought match, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24, on Tuesday night, March 4, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. 

Head coach Rald Ricafort acknowledged the challenge posed by ZUS Coffee, led by coach Jerry Yee, stating that their opponents surprised them in the opening set. 

However, he was pleased with his team’s ability to recover and execute well, especially in the crucial moments of the fourth set.  

The PLDT High Speed Hitters hiked its win streak to six, breaking into the top three of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference with a masterful 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 victory over Farm Fresh at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday, February 4.

Savi Davison was relentless, posting a match-high 26 points loaded with 23 kills to carry the High Speed Hitters past the Foxies to a 6-3 record.

The Filipino-Canadian spiker also registered three blocks along with six excellent receptions. 

While Davison spearheaded PLDT’s offense, young setter Angge Alcantara orchestrated the plays and served as the catalyst with 12 excellent sets and four markers to earn Player of the Game honors.

Despite the impressive outing, the High Speed Hitters should not lower their guards as head coach Rald Ricafort stressed the value of maintaining consistency as they move into the tournament's pivotal stage.

PLDT returned to their winning ways after pulling off a 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 victory over Cignal in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, January 28.

The High Speed Hitters retaliated fiercely after the HD Spikers won the third set, gaining a 16–6 lead in the fourth set and appearing poised to win the match easily.

The Cignal team, led by Vanie Gandler and Ishie Lalongisip’s aggressive performances halfway through the frame, even got within one at 22-21, but Majoy Baron and star spiker Savi Davison’s kills helped the High Speed Hitters regain their rhythm and end the game.

Davison put up her usual output with 24 points along with 12 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions as PLDT now holds a 5-3 record. 

The Choco Mucho Flying Titans overcame a first-set loss by overcoming PLDT, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18, in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Thursday, January 23.

The Flying Titans, who were tied at 17 points apiece in the fourth quarter, went on a 7-0 run led by Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag’s five points apiece.

Erika Santos' crosscourt hit halted the High Speed Hitters' bleeding, but it was too late as Rondina's down-the-line kill, which Kath Arado was unable to block, sealed the win for Choco Mucho.

As a result, the Flying Titans moved up to 5-3 for fourth place alone after defeating Farm Fresh, ZUS Coffee, and PLDT despite missing the services of Kat Tolentino, who had surgery due to a ruptured appendix.

"Firstly, of course, we dedicate our victory to Kat, she is recovering now. I hope she recovers quickly and we can be together again," said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin.