Savi Davison and PLDT High Speed Hitters during the PVL on Tour Final against Chery Tiggo Crossovers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — PLDT completed a perfect PVL on Tour run to capture its first-ever championship on Sunday.
From heartbreaks in the past conferences, the High Speed Hitters finally reached the promised land after outlasting Chery Tiggo, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8, in the winner-take-all final in front of 11,055 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.
PLDT had to escape the brink of another heartbreak after blowing a two-set lead, but Savi Davison and crew got their act together in the fifth with a sizzling 9-4 start powered by Majoy Baron.
READ: What preseason? PLDT, Chery Tiggo ready to lay it all on the line for PVL On Tour crown
Mika Reyes also had her moment with her clutch hits in the end game, sending PLDT at championship point, 14-5, before Chery Tiggo saved three points. She unleashed her career-high 20 points off 13 kills and seven blocks.
Kianna Dy nailed the championship-clinching block on Cess Robles.
Davison led the collective effort of PLDT with a game-high 23 points, sustaining her lethal form from a 34-point explosion that completed a five-set comeback over Creamline in the knockout semifinal last week.
PLDT High Speed Hitters’ Savi Davison during the PVL on Tour Final against Chery Tiggo Crossovers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Dy, who recovered from major injuries, remained instrumental for the High Speed Hitters, with middle blockers Majoy Baron and Reyes proving potent in the middle. She had 13 points along with Baron, who registered six blocks.
Kath Arado, the heart and soul of PLDT, finally led the franchise to a PVL championship since joining in 2021, while Kim Fajardo displayed her vintage and brilliant playmaking.
With coach Rald Ricafort stressing that there’s no such thing as preseason for PLDT, the healthy and complete High Speed Hitters came out as dominant and fiery in the first two sets.
But facing a relentless Crossovers side led by Ara Galang, the High Speed Hitters lost steam in the third with Chery Tiggo unleashing an 8-1 start to make it a game.
They also blew the match point, 24-23, in the fourth with Galang and Peñafiel forcing a decider for Chery Tiggo before toughing in out in the final set.
PLDT completed an eight-game sweep of the tournament. It eyes another title in the Invitational Conference starting on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
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Chery Tiggo finished with a silver medal in its first PVL final since the 2021 Open Conference inside the bubble in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, where it won the first pro title of the league.