PVL: PLDT scores first ever win over Creamline to end campaign

Savannah Davison leads PLDT High Speed Hitters against Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–With its fate already decided just before clashing with defending champion Creamline, PLDT capped off its PVL 2024 All-Filipino Conference with a bang.

The High Speed Hitters defeated the semifinal-bound Cool Smashers for the first time, 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 27-25, Thursday night behind Savannah Davison’s 27 points crafted from 25 attacks aside from a block and an ace.

Chery Tiggo’s five-set win over the Galeries Tower in the earlier game ended PLDT’s semifinal hopes, and it helped the High Speed Hitters break an eight-game losing streak against the Cool Smashers.

READ: SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

“We just had to give it our all since there’s nothing that we could lose. Thinking about it now, we beat the top two teams in the conference. It kind of shows a lot that when we show up, when we put our best out there, sky’s the limit,” said Davison who had a 42 percent attack efficiency.

“I think from that and just being able to show up without that motivation, that extra ‘we can get into semis’ [mindset helped us to play our best,” she added as PLDT ended its campaign with an 8-3 standing at No. 5 for the second consecutive time.

PLDT High Speed Hitters’ Savi Davison. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Erika Santos got loose with 15 points from 12 attacks on 41 percent attack efficiency, two blocks and an ace as Fiola Ceballos contributed 13 points thanks to Kim Fajardo’s 16 excellent sets .

Davison also finished with 15 excellent receptions with libero and captain Kath Arado leading PLDT’s floor defense with 16 excellent digs and six excellent receptions.

READ: PVL: Savi Davison ‘more confident’ in role as PLDT’s go-to player

Creamline maintained its No. 4 spot despite absorbing its third loss in 11 games, Jema Galanza poured in 16 points from 14 attacks, a block and an ace while Tots Carlos, who played off the bench in the first three sets, added 12 points.

Pangs Panaga finished with 11 points while Michele Gumabao, who started in the first three sets in place of Carlos, had eight points.

WATCH: PLDT coach Rald Ricafort and Savi Davison on ending the All-Filipino Conference on a high note. #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/q5GNM7QoTs

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 25, 2024

“Knowing that and going into next season, using that and putting it forward, it’s gonna be really helpful in terms of adding that motivation and adding that determination knowing that we were capable of what we did tonight,” Davison said.

Down a set and fighting to extend the match, Creamline led for majority of the fourth frame before Santos unloaded a kill through the net defense of the Cool Smashers that tied the game at 22.

Davison allowed PLDT to lead for a brief moment before Carlos scored from the back row and tied the game again at 24-all for an extended set.

Galanza sneaked a point between Santos’ attacks, one of which was a combination play that gave the High Speed Hitters some breathing room 26-25, before Majoy Baron blocked an attempt by Galanza to seal the result.

“Nabanggit naman sa kanila (High Speed Hitters) iyong mindset going into this game, syempre ayun nga to end it on a high note at the same time, iyon talaga—ang goal talaga every conference is to get nine wins so akala namin, ayun nga kung di natin nakuha to talagang two games behind,” PLDT coach Rald Ricafort said.

“Sana next conference makuha na namin. Pero at least, natapos at saka yung preparation namin para sa next conference medyo positive,” Ricafort added.