PLDT’s hopes of defending its PVL Invitational Conference crown took a major hit after back-to-back losses to Nxled and erstwhile-winless Ho Chi Minh City.
After opening the 2026 Invitationals with a victory over Thailand’s EST Cola, the High Speed Hitters stumbled in their next two games, dropping to 1-2 and making their path toward another title much more difficult.
PLDT finally returned to the win column on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, defeating Farm Fresh, 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, to improve its record to 4-4.
With their backs against the wall and their gold medal match hopes no longer entirely in their hands, the High Speed Hitters will look to pull off an upset against heavy favorites Creamline Cool Smashers on Sunday to boost their chances, while also hoping for favorable results in the other matches.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s whoever comes wanting it more. It’s really up in the air. I feel like anybody could win that game. So, it’s, you know, whoever wants it more,” said PLDT star Savi Davison, who erupted for 32 points against Farm Fresh.
(C) PVL Images
Sunday’s marquee matchup will also mark the first time the Fil-Canadian heavy hitter faces internationally tested Jaja Santiago-Minowa on the Taraflex.
Santiago-Minowa, already a force at the net during her last stint in the PVL in 2021, went on to win two Best Middle Blocker awards in the Japan SV.League, the country’s top-level volleyball competition.
“Matangkad siya, tapos malakas siya talaga. Pero, it’s just another person on the court for us. Like, we can’t just focus on one person kasi ang dami nila,” said Davison, the 2025 Invitational MVP.
“Kasi there’s so much talent on that team that you can’t really isolate one person like that. You know, it’s just an added talent, of course. Pero lahat sila. Like, they’re all good.”
While Santiago-Minowa’s addition has made the Cool Smashers the heavy favorites in this conference, Creamline has long been a powerhouse in the league, winning 11 championships across the PVL’s 20 conferences.
In this tournament, Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez, and Tots Carlos have remained consistent for Creamline, while the rest of the squad has continued to prove capable whenever called upon.
“Creamline is Creamline. Sila na ’yan. Sila nagcha-champion; sila magkakasama. Matagal na silang magkakasama. Nakakapagod silang kalaban, pero well, ganon talaga. Trabaho namin ito eh. So kailangan naming pagbutihan pa kung gusto naming manalo. Kailangan namin mag-focus kung gusto namin manalo,” said PLDT captain Kath Arado.
“Ang kailangan naming isipin ngayon: back to zero ulit kami. Nanalo kami ngayon, back to zero, kailangan namin magtrabaho, kailangan namin pagaralan kasi pare-parehas lang naman kaming pagod, wala kami dapat ireklamo sa game namin against Creamline.”
