PVL: PLDT dominates Choco Mucho to stay perfect in Reinforced Conference

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The PLDT High Speed Hitters maintained their unbeaten start in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference after sweeping the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19, on Oct. 16, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

PLDT picked up where it left off, fresh from a straight-sets victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers, and joined the Farm Fresh Foxies as the only undefeated squads in Pool A of the tournament.

Russian reinforcement Anastasiia Bavykina set the tone for PLDT in the first set, displaying a consistent two-way outing that sparked an early run to build a six-point lead.

Despite a mini personal run from Choco Mucho’s import, Marlee Smith, PLDT was able to weather the storm and closed the opener with a series of defensive stops, courtesy of Savannah Davison and Kim Kianna Dy’s superb middle blocking.

The High Speed Hitters continued their dominance in the following set after building an early cushion, capitalizing on Choco Mucho’s unforced errors that caused their slow start.

However, it was in the third and final set where the Flying Titans began to show their true colors as they nearly staged a comeback to keep their hopes alive in the match.

Down 7-18, the High Speed Hitters appeared headed for a lopsided third-set finish, but Choco Mucho staged an impressive 8-1 run to trim the deficit to just four points, 19-15.

Smith and Dindin Santiago-Manabat fueled the rally, taking turns pummeling the ball and energizing the previously quiet Ube Nation fan base.

Just when Choco Mucho thought it had seized the momentum, PLDT had other plans and spoiled the comeback attempt when Bavykina once again turned it up on the offensive end.

Aside from Bavykina, Davison and Majoy Baron also contributed to PLDT’s clinical closeout performance, en route to its second consecutive straight-sets win in the import-laced conference.

Bavykina led the High Speed Hitters with 13 points built from 11 successful attacks, while Dy chipped in nine markers.

PLDT will aim for its third straight win on Oct. 21 against the Cignal HD Spikers, while the Flying Titans look to bounce back on the same date against the NXLED Chameleons.