PLDT Highspeed Hitters. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—PLDT notched a second straight win for a share of Pool A lead on Saturday at PhilSports Arena.
The High Speed Hitters carved out a 25-19, 25-16, 25-17 victory over Galeries Tower behind the duo of Russian import Elena Samoilenko and Fiola Ceballos.
“I am happy to get the win and that the second stringers performed,” coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino.
Samoilenko delivered 14 points on 11 attacks and three blocks as Ceballos added 10 points, mostly from kills with PLDT having an almost perfect game with a 20-11 advantage on errors.
Ricafort utilized every High Speed Hitter with Erika Santos helping her team with nine points and Majoy Baron eight.
“I am happy with the win, today for me is not a good game but we still won,” Samoilenko said. “Every game we need to stay a little bit better, step-by-step and I think after this game we will be better.”
Galeries Tower simplu did not have any answer to the level of play of PLDT, which refused to give the Highrisers any inch of chance to fight back.
Jessey de Leon pushed PLDT’s comfortable lead to 10 before Galeries Tower tried to attempt a comeback.
Roma Joy Doromal landed a down the block kill as Graze Bombita nailed an ace, 23-16. Returning Jovie Prado punched in a cross court kill to move PLDT to match point before Doromal blocked a Samoilenko kill and free agent signing Shannen Palec let out an anticlimactic service error.
“It’s a confidence boost for the team especially for me as a captain because negativity is one of the hindrances for the team to improve,” Kath Arado, who had 16 excellent digs and nine excellent receptions said.
“It’s a good start for us with [Creamline] being the defending champion [in the All-Filipino Conference] so we need to elevate the standard as a team and improve,” she added as PLDT faces Farm Fresh, which is battling Creamline as of posting, next.
France Ronquillo paced the Highrisers with 11 points and import Chuewulim Sutadta seven points.