Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PVL Images

News

Determined Lena Samoilenko: ‘We want to win medals’ as PLDT prepares for Okaro, Akari


After unleashing a monster performance against Chery Tiggo in the quarterfinals, PLDT reinforcement Lena Samoilenko is quickly shifting her focus to the semifinals of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

Awaiting Samoilenko and the High Speed Hitters in the Final Four is the top-ranked Akari, who have remained unbeaten through nine consecutive outings.

And after surviving Chery Tiggo’s Khat Bell, she now shifts her focus to Akari’s Oly Okaro.

“We won now, we’re happy but we have another game. Next day we need to work. We want to win medals [here],” said Samoilenko after her thrilling duel against Khat Bell and the Crossovers.

Samoilenko carried the scoring load as PLDT survived a 1-2 disadvantage to push past Chery Tiggo in a five-set marathon, 25-23, 25-27, 15-25, 25-18, 15-9, advancing to the knockout semifinals set for Thursday.

PVL-RC-2024-PLDT-vs.-Chery-Tiggo-Lena-Samoilenko-2333 Determined Lena Samoilenko: ‘We want to win medals’ as PLDT prepares for Okaro, Akari News PVL Volleyball  - philippine sports news

(C) PVL Images

The Russian spiker delivered an outstanding performance with 37 points, including 32 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, along with 15 excellent receptions. This came in a two-hour, 19-minute contest at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, where Bell led Chery Tiggo with 40 points.

Samoilenko emphasized that her focus isn’t solely on Bell.

“My focus is not Khat Bell. My focus is my team and the game. Our game. We showed good volleyball and we won; it doesn’t matter if it’s Khat Bell or another import. That’s all,” said Samoilenko.

With Bell and the Crossovers now out of the way, Samoilenko and PLDT will regroup as they prepare to face the unbeaten Chargers in the semifinals.

#ReadMore  Basilan vents months-long frustration on Zambo del Sur in VisMin

High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort believes that starting strong will be crucial. He notes that records become irrelevant in the playoffs, emphasizing the need to set the tone early.

“Siguro by this time, di na nagma-matter yung record, going into that game, parang, ‘yun nga, sabi nga natin pagandahan nalang talaga ng gising. Pag nag-click, magki-click, makukuha mo talaga,” said Ricafort, who previously guided Petro Gazz to the title in the last Reinforced Conference.

“At saka, at the same time, siguro di naman sa amin mas may pressure. Kasi yung record naman namin di naman perfect eh. So nandun parin kami sa nagtatrabaho pa rin kami and ita-try talaga namin i-challenge kung ano man yung ibigay sa amin.”

Written By


You May Also Like

News

National University-Monolith concluded its 2024 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship campaign in sixth place after falling to Duc Giang Chemical in straight sets, with...

Basketball

Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel didn’t take much of the credit after ending their harrowing dry spell in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Thursday....

News

When she signed with Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League, MJ Perez thought this could be the perfect place to say goodbye to the...

News

Creamline’s heart and soul, Alyssa Valdez, could not help but be emotional after what she had witnessed at the conclusion of the 2024 Premier...

News

“Sabi nga ni coach, ako na lang ‘yung may bala.” These were the words Jema Galanza lived by in the deciding fifth set of...

News

Erica Staunton contributed significantly to Creamline’s back-to-back championships in the Premier Volleyball League, making her one of the most decorated imports to ever play...

News

For the third straight year, Creamline’s bid for the first-ever Grand Slam in Philippine volleyball history met with adversity. In the 2022 Reinforced Conference,...

News

Now a seven-time champion coach in the Premier Volleyball League, Sherwin Meneses never forgets the people involved in this triumph, from top to bottom....

Advertisement