ILAGAN, ISABELA — PLDT’s campaign in the 2024–25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference was largely centered around Fil-Canadian superstar Savi Davison — and the lack of offensive support around her.
But with Davison still absent for the 2025 PVL On Tour, the High Speed Hitters are turning heads by relying on the players currently available — and they’ve been nothing short of impressive in this preseason tournament.
PLDT remains undefeated in Pool A after three matches, opening with a dominant win over Farm Fresh before pulling off gutsy victories against Petro Gazz and Choco Mucho at the Capital Arena here over the weekend.
“Siguro yung mindset lang talaga namin na since wala yung heavy scorer namin, kailangan talagang manggaling sa lahat. Credit din kay Kim ito kasi siya naman nagdidistribute ng bola,” said head coach Rald Ricafort after their 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17 win over the Flying Titans on Sunday.
Veteran setter Kim Fajardo orchestrated a well-balanced offense during the Ilagan leg. Against Petro Gazz, five players scored at least eight points; against Choco Mucho, five High Speed Hitters reached double digits.
Kianna Dy and Jovie Prado led the charge with 15 points apiece. Kiesha Bedonia and Majoy Baron each added 14, while Mika Reyes chipped in 10 against the Flying Titans.
According to Reyes, the team has embraced the challenge of playing without Davison this preseason — and so far, the results speak for themselves.
(C) PVL Images
“Siguro kailangan lang din namin magtiwala sa isa’t isa kasi ayaw naman namin mag-depend. Kumbaga pero malaking tulong pag nandiyan si Savi, but then again, ayaw namin mag-depend sa kanya lang,” said the 31-year-old middle blocker.
“Challenge din ito sa amin since last conference siya yung highest scorer namin. Pero this time, lahat nakakapag-contribute and maganda rin talaga yung teamwork ng bawat isa,” she added.
Baron, who registered six blocks in the win over Choco Mucho, echoed Reyes’ sentiments. She highlighted how the team has learned to blend their individual strengths into one cohesive and dangerous unit.
“Ako kasi, tiwala talaga ako sa mga kasama ko kasi bawat isa, parang meron talagang specialty eh, so na-work namin yun as a group and lumalabas talaga yung teamwork namin sa loob.”
With Davison’s return still uncertain — and Dell Palomata and Alleiah Malaluan also unavailable due to their commitments with Alas Pilipinas — Ricafort remains committed to making the most of the players currently in the lineup.
The High Speed Hitters now shift their focus to the next leg of the PVL On Tour, traveling to the USJ-R Coliseum in Cebu City for back-to-back matches against Nxled and Galeries Tower on July 26 and 27.
“Totoo hindi pa talaga sigurado (ang dating ni Savi) pero kung dumating, dagdag na tulong. Pero for now, naka-focus kami sa ginagamit namin,” said Ricafort.
