PLDT opened its 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference with a 25-18, 25-19, 25-14 sweep of the short-handed Chery Tiggo on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Mika Reyes starred in the High Speed Hitters’ debut victory, finishing with a game-high 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks while Chin Basas supplied 14 markers to drop the Crossovers to 0-2.
“Yung instruction ko sa kanila, simulan lang namin nang maganda, tatapusin namin nang maganda,” said PLDT head coach George Pascua.
Looking to close out the game, the High Speed Hitters opened the third frame with an 8-2 run before putting up its biggest lead of the game at 12, 22-10, off a Basas hit. That proved to be it as a couple of errors from the Crossovers spelled their own doom.
“Kumbaga, sa umpisa pa lang nandoon na yung desire namin. Yun naman kasi ang goal namin, na makuha yung first win namin para yung momentum namin tuluy-tuloy,” Pascua said.
With the Crossovers threatening to come back late in the first set, Reyes and Jules Samonte fired two points each in a 4-0 blast, 24-17, to give the High Speed Hitters a comfortable seven-point lead. An attack error from Mylene Paat sealed the 1-0 advantage for PLDT.
The High Speed Hitters went on an 8-2 blast midway into the second frame to put up an 18-13 lead. Chery Tiggo was able to close the gap to within three with a 3-1 blitz but Heather Guino-o and Reyes powered a 6-0 rally to mount a 2-0 advantage.
Jules Samonte added 11 points for the High Speed Hitters while Fiola Ceballos collected 10 points, 14 excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.
Rhea Dimaculangan steered the offense with 21 excellent sets while Kath Arado had nine excellent digs.
On the other hand, the Crossovers missed the services of Buding Duremdes, EJ Laure, Justine Dorog, Alina Bicar, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat for the second consecutive game.
Santiago-Manabat is nursing a grade three left ankle sprain while the quartet remained out due to health and safety protocols.
Mylene Paat once again led the undermanned Chery Tiggo in scoring with nine points to go along with 10 digs while Maika Ortiz and Adorador added six and five points, respectively.
PLDT takes on Creamline next on Saturday at 2:30 PM while Chery Tiggo looks to punch its first win against Cignal later that day at 5:30 PM.
