Riding the momentum of a flawless offseason that produced two championships, PLDT showed no signs of slowing down as it opened its 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on a strong note.
Extending their winning streak to 14 games, the High Speed Hitters swept Capital1 in straight sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23, on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum — spoiling the official debut of top overall pick Bella Belen.
The reigning PVL On Tour and Invitational champions looked even more dangerous this time, with their championship core reinforced by hard-hitting 6-foot-2 Russian winger Anastasiia Bavykina, who turned heads with an impressive debut performance.
PLDT next takes on Choco Mucho on Thursday, 6:30 PM at the same venue in hopes of extending its winning streak to 15 games.
Capital1, which dropped its supposed opening match to Choco Mucho last October 7, couldn’t change its fortunes. The young Solar Spikers once again fell short against a seasoned and cohesive opponent — this time, the surging High Speed Hitters.
The night went from bad to worse for the Solar Spikers after team captain and starting libero Roma Mae Doromal had to be stretchered off the court following an awkward fall while diving for a ball in the third set, with PLDT holding a slim 14-12 lead.
Doromal suffered muscle cramps in the stomach area, which ruled her out for the rest of the game.
Capital1 will go up next against Nxled also on Thursday at 4:00 PM.
