PVL: PLDT maintains lethal form in sweep of Kobe Shinwa

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The PLDT High-Speed Hitters kept its unblemished record alive after powering past guest team Kobe Shinwa University from Japan, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23, in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Aug. 25, 2025, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

After racing to a comfortable 2-0 lead, the High-Speed Hitters found themselves in deep waters when the spikers from Japan banked on a much-improved hitting efficiency to take a 20-18 cushion in the third and final set.

From a passive approach inside the net, Kobe Shinwa executed crisper cross-court attacks that negated PLDT’s height advantage to boost their chances of forcing another set.

However, PLDT wouldn’t be denied after staging a momentum-stealing 7-3 scoring run that officially left Kobe Shinwa in the dust.

Savannah Davison and Alleiah Malaluan joined hands to spark the High-Speed Hitters’ crucial closing rally, supported by the defensive prowess of Majoy Baron and Kim Kianna Dy, who swatted away two crucial attacks that would’ve moved Kobe Shinwa to a set point.

PLDT picked up where they left off after handing Kobe Shinwa an unanticipated scoring avalanche early in the opener, orchestrated by no other than Kim Fajardo, who ran the High-Speed Hitters’ offense to perfection.

The former DLSU and national team standout mixed up her setting and involved the wings and the backline that kept Kobe Shinwa’s floor defense guessing for the whole stretch.

It was midway through the first when PLDT pulled away, capped off by an off-the-block kill from Baron and a Davison down-the-line spike.

Kobe Shinwa adjusted in the following set and doubled their effort in the floor coverage department, but PLDT’s middle blocking proved to be the difference in the placing match.

Despite getting outscored in the win, PLDT had a wide advantage in the middle blocking department, 11-1, led by Davison who returned three spikes back to Kobe Shinwa.

Davison spearheaded another PLDT flawless outing with 17 points off 13 successful attacks and six excellent digs, while Malaluan sustained her stellar rookie debut with 12 markers and eight excellent receptions.

Fajardo replicated her setting mastery in their last win against the Cignal HD Spikers, dishing out 20 excellent sets alongside six excellent receptions.

The High-Speed Hitters will look to maintain their unbeaten record on Aug. 28 as they take on the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the last game of the scheduled doubleheader.