PLDT bounced back from its opening day loss, blanking Army-Black Mamba, 25-19, 25-12, 25-21 in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Thursday night.
Mean Mendrez stepped up for the High Speed Hitters, scoring 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks while Dell Palomata added nine markers which included two blocks in their first win of the tournament.
Jovie Prado had nine points as well to go along with 12 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions.
Kath Arado collected 33 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions while Rhea Dimaculangan dished out 18 excellent sets to go along with two aces and one attack.
“Syempre kulang pa. Hindi naman yun yung hanap namin na performance so ang goal naman din talaga nila every game is mag-improve pa. Happy kami na nakakuha na ng una pero marami pang hahabulin,” said new PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort, who scored his first win with the team.
“Previous game, siguro yung counter namin. Yun din kasi yung prinipare ngayong game saka tumatapang na unti-unti yung mga Mean Mendrez, Jovie Prado yung mga out of system na nahirapan kami ng F2,” he added.
Royse Tubino scored eight points along with five excellent receptions while Nene Bautista had seven markers to go along with 10 excellent digs.
The Lady Troopers, who lost their second consecutive game of the tournament, absorbed their 15th consecutive loss since last year.
PLDT will face Chery Tiggo on Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the same venue while Army eyes its first win against fellow winless squad Akari earlier that day at 4:00 PM.
