High Speed Hitters wrest solo control, crush Highrisers

PLDT asserted its superiority from the opening exchanges, overwhelming the Highrisers with relentless wing attacks and a suffocating presence at the net. Aside from a brief scare late in Set 2 and Galeries Tower’s gritty stand early in the third, the High Speed Hitters fired on all cylinders offensively while their defensive wall held firm, powering them to a swift 73-minute victory.

The victory lifted PLDT to the solo lead with a 6-1 record, overtaking sister team Cignal (5-2) and pulling ahead of Creamline (5-1) in the heated race for spots in the Qualifying Round.

It was PLDT’s third straight win since its early three-game streak was halted by Cignal in a stunning three-set result.

For Galeries Tower, the defeat marked its third consecutive setback since stunning Nxled last Feb. 19, leaving the Highrisers at ninth place in the 10-team field with a 2-5 record.

Despite falling out of contention for a Top Four finish, the Highrisers remain mathematically in the hunt for a semifinal berth. However, their path has grown steeper as they will have to navigate the Play-In stage, which features teams ranked No. 5 to No. 10 to be divided into two groups after the single-round preliminaries beginning March 24.

PLDT’s edge was most evident at the net, where its towering middle blockers repeatedly shut down Galeries Tower’s attacks while its wing spikers, led by the prolific Savi Davison, kept the pressure constant. The High Speed Hitters dominated the Highrisers across all fronts, winning the attack battle, 43-37; blocks, 9-4; and service aces, 6-1.

Mika Reyes and Alleiah Malaluan delivered crucial blocks on Erika Raagas and Cams Victoria late in the match, highlighting the High Speed Hitters’ unforgiving defense. Malaluan then followed it up with a twisting hit near the post to push PLDT to match point.After a successful defensive stand against a Galeries Tower attack, Kim Dy capitalized on a broken play to seal the victory.

“We focused on ourselves. Aside from recovery, we needed to work on what we had to do,” said PLDT setter Kim Fajardo, contrasting their earlier five-set struggle against the Farm Fresh Foxies last Thursday with their latest straight-set romp.

“Yung communication, trust and energy – mga key factors na hindi naituturo. I’m happy na lumitaw sa game namin ngayon, sana magtuloy-tuloy ito,” added Fajardo, whose 15 excellent sets and three points earned her Best Player of the Game honors.

Looking ahead to their final two games against Choco Mucho on Saturday and Nxled on March 19, Fajardo acknowledged the increasing challenge.

“Pahirap nang pahirap ang labanan. Sana yung team mas maging cohesive at mag-jell pa,” she said.

Davison topscored with 21 points after erupting for 32 against the Foxies, while Reyes finished with 10, and Malaluan, Majoy Baron and Dy contributed nine, seven and six markers, respectively. Malaluan also shone on defense, posting 14 excellent digs and seven digs, while Davison added seven receptions.

No Highriser reached double figures, underscoring their struggle to break through PLDT’s defensive wall. Jean Asis led Galeries Tower with nine points, while Gayle Pascual finished with eight, and Aiza Pontillas and Erika Deloria chipped in seven apiece.

PLDT asserted its dominance early, recording four blocks while forcing Galeries Tower’s spikers to adjust their shots midair, which resulted in several attack errors. The Highrisers managed to keep Set 1 close for a while, nearly matching their opponents’ attacks, but a five-point PLDT run opened a 21-14 lead.

That surge effectively settled the set, as Galeries Tower’s comeback attempt was hampered by consecutive service errors – adding to its struggles against a PLDT side that excels not only in attack and net control, but also in composure and poise.

The Highrisers showed signs of resistance in Set 2 despite squandering a 16-13 lead, battling back from a 20-24 deficit behind Victoria’s second hit and Shola Alvarez’s block on Jessey de Leon.

But PLDT emerged from the huddle organized and composed, converting a solid first ball into a perfect pass to Davison, who delivered a powerful hit that the Galeries Tower defense could not contain, sealing the set and giving the High Speed Hitters a 2–0 lead.