FOR years, PLDT has been one of the more competitive teams in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) - having made the playoffs thrice over the past eight conferences, with two fourth-place finishes as their peak.
But a championship run remains elusive for the High Speed Hitters even as it paraded a solid mix of veterans and young guns over the past seasons.
But after a solid opener to the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference which they started by handing the league’s winningest side Creamline its first opening-day defeat in five years, and a dominant rout over Galeries Tower to climb the Pool A standings - things are looking up for the High Speed Hitters.
For team captain Kath Arado, this might just very well be the start that they needed in their bid to win the team its very first league championship.
“Dagdag kumpyansa talaga siya sa team, lalo na sa’kin as a team captain. ‘Yung negativity kasi talaga, ‘yun ‘yung isa sa mga hindrance para mag-improve ‘yung team,” Arado said.
“Magandang start ‘yun sa’min kasi defending (league) champions sila, so kailangan pa namin itaas pa yung standard namin as a team para mag-improve pa kami.”
Undermanned yet overpowered
Concerns were first raised on PLDT’s Reinforced Conference run as Mika Reyes and Jovy Prado’s on-court returns were welcomed by the injury to its leading scorer Savi Davison and the uncertain status of on-the-mend Kianna Dy.
Regardless of who’s there, the proactive guidance of champion mentor Rald Ricafort keeps the title-seeking squad afloat in the face of adversity.
In this case, familiarity for an intact PLDT side breeds championship potential.
“Hindi kami pinabayaan ng coaches talaga, lahat naman since day one, talagang trinaining ‘yung bawat isa," Arado shared.
“Given na matagal na kami magkasama nila ate Fiola (Ceballos), ‘yung mga iba, tapos late lang naman sila Savi (Davison), hindi siya masyado malaking adjustment kasi magkakasama kami and iisang sistema lang naman inaadapt namin.”
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