High Speed Hitters seek revenge; Chameleons eye redemption

Games today, February 24

4 p.m. – Akari vs Nxled

6:30 p.m. – Cignal vs PLDT

PLDT is not just shielding an unbeaten record. It is hunting redemption.

Still smarting from a stunning straight-set loss the last time they faced the Cignal Super Spikers, the High Speed Hitters return to the court with unfinished business as they clash in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries Tuesday at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan.

That defeat remains a sore spot.

PLDT came into that Reinforced Conference matchup riding a 15-game winning streak that produced two championships. It had momentum. It had confidence. It was heavily favored.

Cignal, then playing without an import and coming off back-to-back losses, was not supposed to threaten.

Instead, the Super Spikers shocked the High Speed Hitters in straight sets — a result that derailed PLDT’s bid for a third straight title and eventually forced it to settle for fourth.

That memory lingers.

Now at 3-0, PLDT stands as the only team with a clear path to an outright semifinal berth — but only if it sweeps the eliminations. With erstwhile unbeaten Nxled recently falling to Galeries Tower, the door is open. The incentive is clear. The margin for complacency is gone.

Expect coach Rald Ricafort to unleash the full arsenal.

Savi Davison spearheads the charge, backed by the formidable frontline of Kim Dy, Majoy Baron and Mika Reyes. Playmakers Kim Fajardo and Angge Alcantara orchestrate the attack, while veterans Jovie Prado, Jessey de Leon, Alleiah Malaluan and Kiesha Bedonia provide depth and stability.

“Malakas ang Cignal. Marami din marami din yung araw na nilalaan nila ngayon para mag-prepare, parang one week yata sila,” said Ricafort.

“Kami, from off bukas, magiging three days na ulit sa kanila. For sure, magiging mahirap, lalo na with yun nga yung mga usual si Erika (Santos) and yung mga middles. So paghahandaan natin kahit konti lang yung oras,” he added.

Truly, Cignal is hardly backing down.

The Super Spikers, who also opened with a 3-0 run before absorbing a shutout loss to the Chameleons, are equally determined to reassert themselves in the top four chase.

Vanie Gandler is due for a bounce-back after being limited to five points against Nxled, a far cry from her 18.3-point average in the first three games. Santos continues to deliver steady numbers, while setter Gel Cayuna keeps the offense fluid. Support from Tin Tiamzon, Roselyn Aquino, Jackie Acuña, Ishie Lalongisip, Erin Pangilinan, Jessa Ordiales and Jewel Encarnacion could turn the 6:30 p.m. showdown into another tug-of-war.

At 4 p.m., Nxled seeks its own redemption arc.

The Chameleons were dealt a humbling defeat by the Highrisers — a loss that snapped their unbeaten run and exposed cracks in an otherwise impressive start.

Now they face sister team Akari Chargers in a matchup loaded with urgency.

Nxled must prove the stumble was merely a detour.

Coach Ettore Guidetti is expected to restore his preferred rotation, with MJ Phillips and Djanel Cheng expected to return and rejoin stalwarts Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, Chiara Permentilla and Lyann de Guzman. Bang Pineda’s presence should further steady the core as the Chameleons attempt to regain their early-season edge.

But Akari, despite three straight losses, is desperate — and dangerous.

Coach Tina Salak will demand a response from Ivy Lacsina and Grethcel Soltones, while Fifi Sharma, Ced Domingo, Jyne Soreño, Mary Rhose Dapol, Chenie Tagaod and setter Mars Alba try to turn lessons from defeat into a breakthrough performance.

Adding spice to the twin bill are compelling sibling subplots that could swing momentum at any point. In matches where pride, payback and positioning collide, corporate affiliations fade into the background.

What remains are grudges to settle, reputations to restore and sister-versus-sister battles that could very well go down to the final rally.