ANTIPOLO – PLDT leaned on its reserves to turn back Cignal in the fourth set to claim its second consecutive win, 15-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 in the semifinals of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Thursday at the Ynares Center here.
Jovie Prado, who played her first game this conference after suffering from a left ankle sprain, provided nine points in the win while Erika Santos delivered all of her five points in the final stretch of the fourth frame that saw the High Speed Hitters comeback from a 14-19 deficit.
PLDT went on a 9-0 rally late in the final set to take a 23-19 advantage over the HD Spikers. The latter managed to trim the lead to two points thanks to Rachel Daquis but Santos delivered a hit that pulled the High Speed Hitters at match point.
Ces Molina saved a point for Cignal while Santos went for an off-speed that went straight to the net. The rookie opposite hitter, though, made sure to atone for her mistake and hammered the lethal blow that pushed PLDT to a 2-0 standing in the semifinals.
“Syempre ayun, overwhelmed, mixed emotions, kasi ‘di ba? Knowing Cignal naman napakalakas ng mga tao nila. Sabi ko nga lagi sa kanila, yung pagkapanalo at pagkatalo is a choice, so mamili tayo, choice ba natin na manalo o matalo? Pinili namin na manalo,” said High Speed Hitters head coach George Pascua.
After trading lopsided victories in the first two sets, the High Speed Hitters and the HD Spikers figured in a tight encounter in the third set which saw them tied at 23-all before Jules Samonte and Prado delivered the crucial blows to seal the 2-1 lead.
Dell Palomata scored a team-high 19 points for PLDT built on 16 attacks and three kill blocks. Samonte had 12 markers while Mika Reyes and Chin Basas added 11 points each in the victory.
On the other hand, Ces Molina scored 20 points from 19 attacks in her first game back since suffering a right ankle sprain. She missed the team’s last two matches against Petro Gazz and PLDT in the elimination round, respectively, but could not snap the HD Spikers’ skid that is already at three games.
Daquis added 11 points, 14 excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions while Ria Meneses and Angeli Araneta had seven and five markers.
The HD Spikers, who went down to 0-1 in the standings, also welcomed back Chai Troncoso, Ayel Estranero, Rose Doria, and Jerrili Malabanan. All four players, including Daquis, were placed under the league’s health and safety protocols.
PLDT looks to make it three in a row against Creamline at 5:30 PM on Saturday while Cignal will try to bounce back against Army-Black Mamba at 2:30 PM. Both games will be played at the same venue.
