PVL: PLDT moves to 3-0 with sweep of Nxled

PLDT High Speed Hitters in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–PLDT kept its stranglehold in Pool B of the PVL Reinforced Conference after a 32-30, 25-18, 25-17 sweep of Nxled on Tuesday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Elena Samoilenko connected on 20 points, 19 from attacks and a block while Erika Santos finished with 19 points on 16 hits and 42 percent attack efficiency and three blocks to help the High Speed Hitters improve to a 3-0 record.

“Good start. I hope we can continue this until the last two games [of this round] because the lost two games against Chery Tiggo and Farm Fresh will be heavy,” coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino.

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“[I remained] composed [today] because in the starting games I was not able to help too much so I motivated myself to return [playing a good game,” Santos said.

Despite having an offensive duo in Chiara Permentilla and Trisha Tubu, the Chameleons still dropped their second game in three games.

Nxled’s only win came from an opening five-game thriller against Galeries Tower.

Meegan Hart, the Chameleons’ American import, had a meager output of only seven points.

PLDT’s net defense played a big role in blanking Nxled, which had six aces which Ricafort said will be a focus for the High Speed Hitters in their coming games.

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“In the early part, we were still finding our groove, then we held on until the end and trusted each other. Nxled’s defense and blockings was so established which made it hard for us,” Santos said of the action-packed opening frame.

PLDT encountered futile resistance after an extended opening set as it cruised past Nxled the rest of the way.

Jaja Maraguinot landed three consecutive aces followed by a Permentilla cross-court kill to narrow PLDT’s lead to 15-11. But that failed to dampen the High Speed Hitters’ run where Santos and Reyes blocked the attempts of Nxled to cause more damage.

“Credit to the service of Maraguinot, it dealt a lot of damage so we need to work more on our passing but we prepare our players in those kinds of scenarios,” Ricafort said.

Mika Reyes, despite only scoring five points, was instrumental in the endgame after scoring three straight points to end the match with a block and back-to-back quick attacks.