Kath Arado and the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Kath Arado is keeping a positive outlook on PLDT’s campaign in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference despite missing a couple of key players.
With core players led by go-to scorer Savi Davison out, the High Speed Hitters still went unbeaten in two games in Pool A after upsetting the Creamline Cool Smashers in five sets on opening day last week and sweeping Galeries, 25-19, 25-16, 25-17, last Saturday.
“It really boosts the team’s confidence, especially for me as the team captain. Negativity is one of the hindrances to the team’s improvement. It’s a good start for us because they are the [All-Filipino] defending champions, so we need to raise our standards as a team to keep improving,” said Arado, who has been providing solid floor defense for PLDT in its first two games.
Davison will be out of action for a few weeks due to a minor left knee treatment while Alas Pilipinas player Dell Palomata and newlywed Rhea Dimaculangan have also been ruled out. Kianna Dy’s recovery from a knee injury remains day-to-day.
Mika Reyes and Jovy Prado, meanwhile, have returned to action after missing the All-Filipino Conference.
The PLDT captain credits their good start to their chemistry with returning import Lena Samoilenko, who scored a total of 48 points in her first two games, and mainstays Erika Santos, Kim Fajardo, Fiola Ceballos, Majoy Baron, and Reyes.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference
“The coaches have really taken care of us, training each of us from day one. Since we’ve been together for a long time, especially with Ate Fiola and the others, and Savi only got injured recently, the adjustment hasn’t been too big because we’re together and adapting to the same system,” Arado said.
“We’re really happy during training, and as the coaches always say, we’ll train happily and improve happily, so there’s no negativity in the team. We just execute what we’ve learned,” she added.
Arado and the High Speed Hitters had a week-long rest after their supposed game vs Farm Fresh was rescheduled from Thursday to August 8 due to unfavorable weather conditions caused by Typhoon Carina-enhanced Southwest Monsoon.
PLDT returns to action on Tuesday next week against Nxled at 5 p.m. at Philsports Arena.