Kim’s convenience: Playmaking wizard sets clear path for PLDT’s Final 4 bid
PLDT High Speed Hitters’ new setter Kim Fajardo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Kim Fajardo was unsure of how she would orchestrate a brand new system after taking her act to PLDT for this Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
“I was really nervous at first because it’s my first time going out of my comfort zone,” Fajardo said on Thursday.
She turned out just fine.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
Fajardo lobbed a team-best 11 excellent sets to lead the High Speed Hitters to a dominant 25-22, 25-6, 25-9 victory against Galeries at Filoil EcoOil Arena.
And she has her teammates—especially a noted veteran who plays her position—to thank.“[I]t all became easier for me because coach Rald [Ricafort] is always guiding me as well as ate Rhea [Dimaculangan],” she added, referring to her new coach and PLDT’s veteran setter. “She (Dimaculangan) guides me so it was okay, the adjustment wasn’t as hard.”
Fajardo’s optimistic perspective is a good sign for PLDT, which will be looking to reach the Final Four this time after capping last season with a fifth-place finish.
READ: PVL: Out of her comfort zone, Kim Fajardo still shines
The talented setter was among the many standouts of F2 Logistics who searched for new homes after the Cargo Movers disbanded. Tagging along with her to PLDT were middle blocker Majoy Baron and spiker Kim Kianna Dy.
Bolstering trio
Savannah Davison and the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The trio, despite Dy still recuperating from her knee injury, will be bolstering a formidable group that includes last conference’s best scorer Savannah Davison.
And the Filipino-Canadian spiker is happy to have Fajardo with her now on the same side of the court.
“I think having her smarts is a really big thing that we can take advantage of,” Davison said. “Her being a setter, being offensive [minded] is one thing but her talking to everyone and telling us what to do, what to run I think that’s a really good sign of leadership on the court.”
READ: PVL: Savannah Davison powers PLDT demolition of Galeries
The feeling was mutual for Fajardo as she combines her IQ with the potent offense of Davison to put the league on notice.
“It’s an advantage for me to work with Savi. I am confident that any set that will be given to her, she can find a way to score,” Fajardo added.
Davison feasted on Fajardo’s playmaking, scoring 16 of her 19 points on attacks. She also had two blocks and an ace.
Fajardo also made full use of Jules Samonte, who added 15 points of her own, as PLDT awaits some of its players to be at a hundred percent.
“Happy that we have executed well. Happy that in our first game we were able to utilize our new players and we have maximized our rotation,” Ricafort said.
