PVL: Time for PLDT to show its mental toughness, says coach

PLDT High Speed Hitters. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—PLDT coach Rald Ricafort wants the weary High Speed Hitters to flaunt their mental toughness amid a grueling stretch in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.

PLDT kept its championship hopes alive after sweeping F2 Logistics,  25-21, 25-19, 25-18, on Saturday at Philsports Arena to force a triple tie at 1-2 with its victim and Cignal in the semifinal round-robin.

Already minus Jovy Prado, who had been ruled out for the season due to an ACL tear, PLDT was also without Mean Mendrez, whom Ricafort opted not to play to rest her minor knee injury.

Royse Tubino, Fiola Ceballos, and Mich Morente filled in the void for the shorthanded High Speed Hitters.

Ricafort admitted that the compressed schedule has taken a toll on their health and preparation. But just like other teams, the High Speed Hitters have to deal with it.

“This semis is more about the mental aspect of the game rather than the physical. We have to show a persistent mindset and remain patient with this schedule,” said Ricafort in Filipino.

Ricafort also assured that Mendrez is fit to play for their remaining games, it’s just that they took full control of their match against the Cargo Movers so he didn’t field the wing spiker.

PLDT needs to win its remaining semis games against the visiting foreign teams to stay in title contention as only the top two will advance to the winner-take-all final on July 30.

The High Speed Hitters take on Vietnam’s Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh (0-1) on Monday at 6:30 p.m., before wrapping their semis campaign against Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze on Thursday.

Tubino, who has been a good addition to PLDT this midseason tournament, is excited to help her team and learn from the foreign teams at the same time.

“I’m excited because the quality of these international teams is really different. We really have to prepare for them,” said Tubino in Filipino.

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