ANTIPOLO – Savannah Davison couldn’t hide her pride as PLDT showed immense heart in a dramatic five-set victory over the previously unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers on Saturday night.
Facing a team that hadn’t lost a single game in six months, the High Speed Hitters came out firing, eking out a tight first-set win before grinding out another hard-fought victory in the second to seize an early 2-0 advantage.
But true to their championship pedigree, the Cool Smashers responded with nerves of steel, clawing their way back with victories in the next two frames to force a deciding fifth set—one they’ve thrived in time and again.
Despite missing ace libero Kath Arado, who exited due to cramps in the fourth set, PLDT refused to fold. The High Speed Hitters drew key contributions from every player on the floor, setting the stage for Davison to land the finishing blows.
“I think this one was extra special because it took every single one of us—from the bench to the people on the court,” said the Fil-Canadian outside hitter after PLDT’s thrilling 30-28, 25-21, 23-25, 18-25, 16-14 triumph at the Ynares Center here.
The University of Oklahoma product delivered a monster performance, leading all scorers with 34 points on 29 attacks and five blocks while adding 17 excellent receptions.
However, Davison emphasized that the victory was a collective effort, crediting her teammates for stepping up when it mattered most. The win propelled PLDT into a three-way tie with Cignal and Choco Mucho for third place, all with identical 7-3 records.
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“Coach was able to shuffle in a lot of people, especially shoutout to Iza (Viray). She hasn’t gotten on the court much this year, but she really pulled through for us and got this win,” Davison said. “Like I said, it’s a team effort. Regardless of what I do, everyone showed up today.”
Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Erika Santos, Kim Fajardo, and Kianna Dy all had their moments in the deciding frame, delivering clutch plays that gave PLDT a crucial 13-10 lead.
Arado, who had been stellar in floor defense before her exit, was ably replaced by Viray, who held her ground against Creamline’s relentless attacks.
“Just the hard work and dedication we put in every day—it was on full display in this game,” Davison added. “We push ourselves in practice, even when nobody’s watching, and I’m glad we showed that today.”
For Davison, the victory wasn’t just about snapping Creamline’s streak—it was about proving the High Speed Hitters’ mettle.
“Just to win, honestly. Whatever it took. We were super focused from the start. We knew it was going to be a hard game, but we pulled through. They never gave up, and I’m really proud of what we did today.”
