While it was not the outcome that he wanted, PLDT head coach George Pascua still feels satisfied with the High Speed Hitters’ performance in the 2022 Premier Volleyball Open Conference.
PLDT, which went through a massive overhaul in the off-season, finished at fifth place after beating F2 Logistics in the 5th-6th classification match. That is two spots higher than its seventh-place finish in the Ilocos Norte bubble last year.
“Satisfied naman kasi from one and a half month kami nag training, at least nakita na namin yung potential ng team namin,” Pascua told Tiebreaker Times.
“Yung potential ng team nakikita namin competetive talaga para sa darating pa na conferences.”
The High Speed Hitters only retained four players prior to the Open Conference. Then it added the likes of Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata, Jovie Prado, Jules Samonte, and Kath Arado to beef up the squad.
And upon seeing how the team played in this conference, Pascua remains convinced that this batch of PLDT has what it takes to make a deep run in the next conference.
But according to Pascua, the players must up their respective skill levels. Moreover, the team must also maximize its advantage in the middle for that to happen.
“Hopefully mas tumaas pa yung skill level nila kasi ang labanan dito sa PVL talagang intense e. Talagang ‘di natin alam kung sino yung pupunta sa taas or bababa. Kumbaga, unpredictable e so kailangan lang talaga yung mindset is nandoon,” the three-time PSL champion coach said.
“Siguro yung experience pa, sa blocking namin kasi kailangan ma-maximize namin yung height namin sa block tapos yung service at receive. Yung usually basic na dapat gawin sa volleyball.”
PLDT, after losing its first two games in the conference, scored a huge win over BaliPure to cap off the group phase with a 1-2 standing and clinch the third spot in Pool B.
The High Speed Hitters, unfortunately, fumbled a 2-1 advantage over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the quarterfinals which booted them out of title contention.
“Abangan nila ang PLDT for the next conference. Binigay namin ang lahat sa mga laban para ma-satisfy yun mga fans ng PLDT and at the same time yung volleyball community.”
