By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The PLDT High Speed Hitters ended their PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference campaign on a bright note as they pulled off a 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 27-25 stunner against the Creamline Cool Smashers at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday night, April 25.
Savannah Davison finished with 27 points, built on 25 attacks, one block and one service ace to go with seven excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions to be named Player of the Game for the High Speed Hitters.
After losing a tight opening set, the High Speed Hitters bounced back with a dominant 25-14 win in the second set before they pulled off a close 25-22 triumph in the third set to take a 2-1 set edge.
The Cool Smashers started the fourth set with a 14-9 lead, but the High Speed Hitters slowly clawed their way back until they forced a deadlock at 25-all before completing the upset with back-to-back points from Erika Santos and Davison.
Even if they were already out of the Final Four contention, Davison made sure to have a good performance that they could build on ahead of the PVL’s second conference.
“I think we came here with a mindset of risking it all and going all-out,” Davison said.
“Unfortunately, it was our last game of the [conference], but we did the best we could, and I am grateful that we showed up today,” she said.
“I think this is just the start for us. Every day we get better, every day we are working harder. So I am very proud of the effort of the whole team,” the Filipina-Canadian volleybelle added.
Both the High Speed Hitters and the defending champion Cool Smashers capped their elimination round campaign with an 8-3 win-loss slate, but it was the latter who advanced to the semifinals due to a higher set ratio.
Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers overcame a flat start to score a 26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 25-12, 15-9 victory against the Galeries Tower Highrisers and clinched a semifinals seat with their 9-2 record.
Alina Bicar emerged as Player of the Game after finishing with 16 excellent sets to go with four points, built on three attacks and a block, for the Crossovers, which is on a seven-game winning streak./ASC, WDJ