PLDT is currently one of the hottest teams in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference after taking down its last four opponents to force a tie in the second spot of the standings.
And High Speed Hitters team captain Rhea Dimaculangan believes that the team’s trust in one another, as well as their faith in head coach Rald Ricafort’s system, are just some of the keys that propelled them to four consecutive wins after dropping their opening game against F2 Logistics.
“Siguro ine-embrace lang namin yung every game. Yung mga challenges na dumarating sa team namin and yung tiwala namin sa bawat isa, yung tiwala namin sa sistema ni coach nandoon na rin and kumpyansa rin,” said Dimaculangan.
The 31-year-old playmaker dished 22 assists to go along with three points in PLDT’s 25-14, 25-21, 25-12, 25-15 victory over Akari at the Philsports Complex last Tuesday. The win helped them tie the Cargo Movers at the second spot with identical 4-1 records.
All nine spikers that were fielded against the Chargers registered a point for the High Speed Hitters to the delight of Dimaculangan.
“Super happy na na-activate ko sila kahit alam ko na parang ‘di ganun ka-smooth yung game. Pero at the end of the day, a win is a win pa rin so thankful pa rin ako kay coach na nandiyan yung tiwala sakin,” said the former University of Sto. Tomas star.
Dimaculangan said that the team has yet to fully adapt Ricafort’s system but she believes that the team can get it done in time for the crucial juncture of the elimination round which will determine if they will be one of the four teams who will compete in the round robin semifinals.
Ricafort echoed Dimaculangan and said that they still need to polish the small details moving forward.
“Siguro hindi pa talaga naka-adjust pero siguro malapit na, malapit na. Konti na lang,” said Dimaculangan.
“Malapit na. Swerte rin ako kasi yung players na involved, yung anim na ginagamit, talagang nag-buy in sa sistema so madali yung transition. Ito na lang talaga sa dulo yung mga small details kailangan i-polish,” added Ricafort.