STA. ROSA, LAGUNA – Elena Savkina-Samoilenko took charge late, powering PLDT’s five-set escape of UAI-Army, 17-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-11, 15-11 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference opening day, Saturday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex.
The 27-year-old outside spiker from Russia dropped a game-high 35 points, including eight in the fifth set, off 32 attacks, two blocks, and an ace on her PVL debut to go along with 12 excellent digs.
With the scores locked at 9-all in the final set, Samoilenko punched in three points in a 5-1 run that gave the High Speed Hitters a 14-10 advantage over the Troopers. Rhea Dimaculangan committed a service error that kept UAI-Army alive before Samoilenko finished the job on the following play.
“Pinaghandaan naman namin syempre. Hindi ganun kadali sa first game lalo na sa mga imports, sabi ko sa kanya just play your game and laging hihingin yung bola lalo na kapag kinakailangan during crucial match,” said PLDT head coach George Pascua.
“Yung instruction with Rhea (Dimaculangan), ganun din sabi ko sa kanya. So kailangan ma-maximize natin,” he added.
Chin Basas added 11 points and 14 digs for the High Speed Hitters while Fiola Ceballos, Mika Reyes, and Dell Palomata each had 10 markers in the game which lasted for two hours and 18 minutes.
Rhea Dimaculangan dished out 21 excellent sets to go along with seven points while Kath Arado collected 11 excellent receptions
The Troopers raced to a 21-12 advantage in the opener before weathering a late spark coming from Samoilenko to take the early 1-0 lead. PLDT then tied the game at 1-all following crucial hits from Palomata and Basas late in the second set.
Things got interesting in the third set after UAI-Army used a 7-0 blast to turn a five-point disadvantage into a 23-21 cushion. Reyes and Ceballos tied the game at 23 while Dimaculangan converted an ace to put her side at set point.
Samoilenko hammered one from the back but was ruled out. This allowed the Troopers to completely steal the set from the High Speed Hitters as Royse Tubino blocked Ceballos before scoring a kill.
Not wanting to repeat the same mistake twice, PLDT went on a scoring barrage in the fourth frame where they led by as much as 13 points, 23-20, before sending the game to a decider.
Canadian reinforcement Laura Condotta scored 17 points on her PVL debut while Tubino provided 17 as well.
Jovelyn Gonzaga, meanwhile, was held to just eight points. She also had 13 excellent digs and eight receptions.
PLDT will face Open and Invitational Conference champion Creamline on Tuesday at 2:30 PM while UAI-Army will take on Akari on Saturday also at 2:30 PM. Both games will be held at the PhilSports Arena.
