PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrate during a game against the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the PVL Open Conference classification phase. Photo from PVL
MANILA, Philippines—PLDT blew a big lead in the fourth set but broke away midway in the decider to post a 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 28-30, 15-8 victory over F2 Logistics Tuesday and clinch fifth place in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference classification round at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The High Speed Hitters wore down the Cargo Movers in the stretch, gaining three points off their rivals’ attack errors while scoring on a couple of aces to turn a shaky 9-7 lead to a 14-7 buffer.
Kim Dy tried to redeem herself from two faulty hits with a blast that saved a match point, only to find her attack in the ensuing play get blocked by two PLDT defenders, handing the set, the match and the fifth spot to the High Speed Hitters.
The Cargo Movers ended up sixth in their first PVL stint.
The High Speed Hitters looked poised to wrapping it up in four after taking control midway through and into the stretch but fell into a maze of errors, enabling the Cargo Movers to mount a comeback from 19-23 down, extend the set and pull off the win.
PLDT had 17 miscues, including a cluster of service errors in the stretch, in the fourth.
Earlier, BaliPure fought back from a set down then dominated Chery Tiggo in the decider to carve out a 15-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 15-7 decision but the Water Defenders still finished ninth and last with two points.
The Crossovers, who stunned the Creamline Cool Smashers in last year’s finals of the league’s inaugural pro staging but struggled this year in the absence of top player Jaja Santiago, ended up eighth with three points.
Army Black Mamba wound up seventh with four points despite dropping a five-setter to Chery Tiggo last weekend.
Bernadette Flora and Marian Buitre unloaded 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Janine Marciano added 11 hits and Gen Casugod and Norielle Ipac delivered 10 points apiece for the Water Defenders.
Mylene Paat and Dindin Santiago flourished with 26 and 20 points, respectively, but the Crossovers lost steam in the face of the Water Defenders’ strong windup.
Shaya Adorador and Rachel Austero chipped in seven points apiece while Maika Ortiz and Jasmine Nabor combined for 12 points for the dethroned champions.