Arado bounces back from lackluster defensive performance

Kath Arado PVL PHOTO 

PLDT High Speed Hitters libero Kath Arado knows full well that they played bad as a team in Game One of the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference best-of-3 semifinals series against the Petro Gazz Angels on March 18, when they lost, 25-14, 23-25, 14-25, 15-25.

Arado, however, also acknowledged that for a defensive specialist, she also had a poor performance in Game One.

That being said, the former University of the East standout made it a point to bounce back in Game Two on March 21 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“After Game One, even though I know that we played bad as a team, I also acknowledge the fact that I had a lackluster performance. I watched the highlights and really thought about why did I had a poor defensive performance. It’s not because they (Petro Gazz) were just not targeting me but it’s because I was letting my teammates defend more,” said Arado.

Bounce back from her poor Game One performance, Arado did in Game Two.

The 5-foot-4 libero logged 26-of 34 in the digging department and 12-of-23 in receptions in Game Two, a vast improvement from her 27-of-55 in digs and 13-of-24 in receptions in Game 1.

With her improved defensive performance, Arado, who also notched two points, led PLDT to a 14-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-15 Game Two win as the High Speed Hitters forced a deciding Game Three on Thursday still at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“That poor performance of mine as a defensive specialist, that’s what I’ve been thinking going into this venue. That’s why I made it a point to take as many balls as I can to lessen the pressure of my teammates, especially our wing spikers,” said Arado.

“Our spikers were doing it all – spiking, defending, receiving and then blocking. That’s the pressure that they were having so I thought that I have to reduce their workload.”