High Speed Hitters build momentum for next phase, spoil Titans’ own bid

Games Tuesday
(Sta. Rosa Sports Complex, Laguna)
4 p.m. – Galeries Tower vs. Akari
6:30 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs. Creamline

The outcome meant little in terms of positioning, but PLDT still played like everything was on the line.

Already assured of advancing to the qualifying round of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, the High Speed Hitters treated Saturday’s clash as more than just another match — using it as a chance to sharpen their rhythm, reinforce their chemistry, and build momentum heading into the more crucial stretch of the tournament.

The On Tour and Invitational champions responded with grit and cohesion, mounting a strong comeback to turn back the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-19, before a largely pro-Choco Mucho crowd at the FilOil Playtime Centre.

For PLDT, the one-hour, 54-minute victory, its seventh against one loss, was less about protecting the top spot and more about reinforcing confidence and identity.

The High Speed Hitters leaned on what has become their backbone — disciplined blocking and collective defense. Time and again, their front line closed the gaps at the net, disrupting Choco Mucho’s rhythm and turning crucial rallies in their favor.

That defensive wall also highlighted the team’s growing cohesion. Even after dropping the opening set, PLDT stayed composed, gradually tightening its floor coverage and timing at the net. Once the blocks started landing with authority, the High Speed Hitters seized control of the match.

Consequently, PLDT dominated the key scoring categories despite a slow start, finishing with a 59-50 edge in attacks and a commanding 12-6 advantage in blocks against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

They sustained the momentum in the third set before carrying that surge into the fourth, racing to an early lead while capitalizing on Choco Mucho’s scrambling defense and wavering attack.

The victory served as a timely morale boost for PLDT as it gears up for the next stage, where sharper execution and sustained chemistry will be even more critical in the race for a semifinal berth.

Meanwhile, the loss dealt a heavy blow to Choco Mucho’s campaign. The Flying Titans slid to 3-5 and seventh place, leaving them virtually out of Top 4 contention and forcing them to navigate the pressure-packed Play-In round reserved for teams ranked fifth to 10th.

“We know Choco Mucho is a very offensive team, so we had to adjust to their spikers because they were attacking on almost every rally, para mahuli namin sila,” said Best Player of the Game awardee Kim Dy, who finished with 17 points, including five blocks, as the High Speed Hitters emphasized their net defense against the wing-heavy attack of the Flying Titans.

Savi Davison held her own in the much-anticipated scoring duel with Sisi Rondina, finishing with 19 points while also contributing six digs and 15 receptions. Although the Choco Mucho star led all scorers with 23 points, Davison received strong support from her teammates.

Majoy Baron added 13 points, highlighted by three blocks, while Alleiah Malaluan chipped in 10. Mika Reyes contributed six points to the effort.

For Choco Mucho, Kat Tolentino was the only other player to reach double figures with 15 points, while Eya Laure was limited to just four markers in a match the team needed to win.

“We started slow but eventually found our rhythm,” she added.

And once they did, there was little stopping the High Speed Hitters.

After drawing level in the second set and seizing control in the third, the PLDT High Speed Hitters turned the fourth into a display of their dominance.

PLDT stormed to an early surge, taking nine of the first 12 points to build a commanding 23-15 lead, anchored by a blocking effort that came almost in waves.

The Flying Titans tried to mount a late rally, stringing together four straight points behind a pair of power attacks from Rondina.

But Malaluan quickly quelled the surge, hammering an off-the-block hit before delivering an ace that silenced the Flying Titans’ faithful and sealed PLDT’s control of the match.