With perhaps the biggest stumbling block to its dream Premier Volleyball League title now cleared from its path, PLDT shifts its full focus to the final hurdle \u2013 one that will challenge not just its skills, depth and firepower, but more so, its character.<\/p>\n
\u201cSiguro more of, move on agad dito sa panalo. Nandiyan rin yung Chery (Tiggo) sa Finals dahil trinabaho rin nila. Maayos rin yung tao nila. Nakabalik narin sila Imee (Hernandez) tapos maganda rin yung na-pick up nila from Draft, (tapos) may Ara (Galang),\u201d said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort after his High Speed Hitters rallied from 1-2 set down and overpowered the Creamline Cool Smashers in Set 5 in their heated semis clash Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cMalaking bagay talaga na makapag-prepare, maka-move on at maka-focus ulit kami against Chery na,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the High Speed Hitters have marched into the one-game finale of the PVL On Tour unbeaten, their rise driven by hard work, grit and a willingness to adapt. But all that could quickly fade if they falter against a Chery Tiggo squad hungry to reclaim its place atop the league.<\/p>\n
PLDT\u2019s route to the finals hasn\u2019t been without adversity. From surviving a dramatic five-set duel against the Cool Smashers \u2013 highlighted by Savi Davison\u2019s 34-point eruption \u2013 to enduring off-court challenges, including being stranded during the Habagat onslaught, the team has been tested in every way imaginable. And every test, they\u2019ve passed.<\/p>\n
What makes PLDT\u2019s rise particularly impressive is its overwhelming firepower and balanced rotation. The return of Davison has given the High Speed Hitters a true offensive anchor \u2013 a go-to scorer capable of breaking games open with her explosiveness and range.<\/p>\n
But even in the Fil-Canadian\u2019s absence, PLDT proved it was no one-woman show.<\/p>\n
At the net, the trio of Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes and Kim Dy has formed a fearsome wall, turning PLDT\u2019s frontline into a near-impenetrable fortress. Dy’s renewed health and form add another layer of offense, while Kim Fajardo, with her veteran poise, runs the plays with precision and vision.<\/p>\n
Complementing the core is Kath Arado, one of the league\u2019s most consistent liberos, whose stability and digging prowess give PLDT transition opportunities off every rally. And when the starters need rest, the bench steps up \u2013 no hesitation, no drop in quality.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a roster that has everything: power, depth, chemistry and momentum.<\/p>\n
But standing in PLDT\u2019s way is a team that knows exactly how to win when it matters most.<\/p>\n
Chery Tiggo, the league\u2019s inaugural pro champion, is no stranger to underdog storylines. The Crossovers\u2019 four-set dismantling of the Cignal HD Spikers in the semifinals reminded everyone that this team, while still evolving, thrives in high-stakes moments. Their ability to dig deep and trust in one another has been a defining trait.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just trust each other. That\u2019s a big factor,\u201d said Galang. \u201cBut it\u2019s not over yet. What matters now is staying focused and maximizing each player\u2019s strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
Galang, alongside the consistent Cess Robles, forms a reliable attacking tandem. The emergence of promising rookies Renee Pe\u00f1afiel, Jyne Sore\u00f1o and Erika Deloria has added fresh legs and fearless energy \u2013 each of them playing beyond their years.<\/p>\n
In the middle, Hernandez has been superb, while Pauline Gaston, Aby Mara\u00f1o and Cza Carandang offer battle-tested backup in both attack and defense.<\/p>\n
Orchestrating it all is playmaker Jasmine Nabor, whose veteran instincts and calm under pressure keep the Crossovers steady. And with Karen Verdeflor sweeping the floor behind them, Chery Tiggo remains a cohesive, tenacious unit capable of gutting out wins.<\/p>\n
On paper, PLDT holds the edge \u2013 riding a seven-game win streak, fielding arguably the most complete starting unit in the tournament, and boasting an MVP-caliber weapon in Davison. Their dominance in both offense and net defense has made them the favorites heading into the final.<\/p>\n
But Chery Tiggo has something PLDT does not \u2013 the memory of climbing this mountain before.<\/p>\n
Their upset win over the highly fancied Creamline squad in 2021 remains one of the league\u2019s most iconic moments, and it proves this team\u2019s capacity to rise when the stakes are highest. They’re not just in the final \u2013 they’re here to win it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With perhaps the biggest stumbling block to its dream Premier Volleyball League title now cleared from its path, PLDT shifts its full focus to the final hurdle \u2013 one that will challenge not just its skills, depth and firepower, but more so, its character. \u201cSiguro more of, move on agad dito sa panalo. Nandiyan rin…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[212],"class_list":["post-3620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-pvl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3620"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3622,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3620\/revisions\/3622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pinoystep.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}