Games Saturday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. – Creamline vs Army
5:30 p.m. – Petro Gazz vs Chery Tiggo
PLDT arrested a four-game slide by giving Akari the boot in the race for the last two Final Four seats with a lopsided, 25-11, 25-21, 25-19, win in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night.
Russian import Elena Samoilenko and middle Mika Reyes spearheaded the High Speed Hitters’ quick work on the Chargers to improve to a 2-4 win-loss record.
With its back against the wall and in a must-win situation, PLDT played with urgency as it opened with an 11-1 gap in the first frame that set the tone for the rout.
“We really wanted to win and redeem ourselves to raise our morale. We really planned and worked for this win,” High Speed Hitters coach George Pascua said.
Samoilenko finished with 20 points hinged on 16 kills, three blocks and an ace and was active on floor defense with eight excellent receptions to lead PLDT, which won for the first time since conquering Army in five sets last 8 October in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Reyes added 15 points with 10 coming off attacks while Dell Palomata had 11 for the High Speed Hitters, who were able to regroup after a controversial 4-set loss to Petro Gazz last Saturday and the junking of their protest on a video challenge issue in the said loss.
PLDT played solid defense at the net with 10 kill blocks as well as in floor defense with 25 digs and 28 excellent receptions.
The High Speed Hitters saw little resistance from Akari with Dominican import Prisilla Rivera having no one to back her up.
Rivera, who dropped 44 points in a five-set win over Choco Mucho, delivered 23 markers with all but one coming off kills.
However, no other Chargers player scored in double figures with Lycha Ebon finishing with just five points while Janine Marciano and Erika Raagas combined for a measly three points as Akari fell to 2-5 card.
The Chargers will close their campaign on Tuesday against F2 Logistics.
