PLDT made it two-for-two for the host nation on opening day of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League, making short work of Australia’s Queensland Pirates, 25-19, 25-12, 25-12, on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
Led by the newly-formed import tandem of Savi Davison and Wilma Salas, the High Speed Hitters capitalized on a sloppy display from the reigning Australian champions to join fellow PVL side Creamline in the winners’ circle.
READ Wilma Salas admits talks with Petro Gazz before move to PLDT
"We got to rest coming off the PVL quarterfinals and we went back to the basics during training and stuff. Obviously, welcoming Wilma and trying to build that chemistry that we didn’t have prior," Davison said.
"I’m glad that we did have that time to prepare for the AVC because it’s gonna be pretty difficult in the next upcoming games."
PLDT’s resident Fil-Canadian winger and the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference’s best outside hitter carried her red-hot form to her first tour of duty for the Philippines with 14 points and eight digs.
Also, eight months since her last Philippine stint with Petro Gazz, returning Cuban reinforcement Salas posted a double-double of 10 points and 15 digs in her first match donning a different shade of red.
Slow start, strong finish
Queensland only showed signs of life right at the very start with a 6-1 opening blitz.
From there, Davison & Co. went all out in the two succeeding sets to close out the match in three as the Aussie side gave away a set's worth of errors in the match.
Mainstay blocker and former national team veteran Mika Reyes essayed a 13-3 set-clinching run in the second frame which the High Speed Hitters won by a whopping 13-point margin.
Even with one foot already on the door of a quarterfinals berth, PLDT’s playoff push still hangs in the balance with a herculean effort needed to topple six-time Thai champion Nakhon Ratchasima in its pool play finale on Tuesday.
"Sinabi ko [sa players na] mag-relax muna. 'Yung excitement siguro ng pag-join dito yung nanguna kaya medyo stiff kami nung start ng first set," said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort.
"Alam naman nila yung igagalaw at yung ilalaro namin. Sadyang ganon lang dahil yung kalaban, nag-eeffort din lumaban."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
