PLDT made quick work of Farm Fresh in its PVL on Tour debut, 25-18, 25-21, 28-26 on Tuesday at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
With the Foxies two points away from a fourth-set extension, PLDT went on a match-clinching 9-4 run to end the match in straight sets.
It was a high-speed start for PLDT in its preseason opener, leading by as much as eight off the bat in the first set through mainstay gunners Kianna Dy, Jovy Prado and Kiesha Bedonia who topscored with 14 points and seven receptions.
KKD & Co. opened the second frame with a quick 5-0 blitz to widen the gap fast against the Foxies.
A third-set showing just as dominant as the first two paved the way for PLDT to spoil Italian mentor Alessandro Lodi’s Philippine coaching debut.
The 46-year-old shot-caller officially became the PVL’s fourth active foreign coach and also the fourth Farm Fresh head coach in its two-year run.
The PLDT veterans played part in a commanding sweep win as captain Kath Arado had a 20-dig, 13-reception double-double.
Mika Reyes added 10 points on seven attacks and three blocks.
Undermanned, but not overwhelmed
PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort isn't too caught up on the absences of two of their Alas Pilipinas stars in veteran blocker Dell Palomata and rookie winger Alleiah Malaluan.
In a way, it diminishes the pressure for them and paves the way for the team to try out new rotations and give more opportunities for their oft-benched second unit.
"Sabi ko lang sa kanila, tingnan natin kung saan kami aabot this conference. Happy na nag-perform lahat, at ni-ready naman sila sa situations tulad kanina [na humabol Farm Fresh sa Set 3], so happy kami na na-execute namin," Ricafort said.
Meanwhile, Trisha Tubu paced the Foxies' opening loss with 14 points as No. 3 pick Alohi Robins-Hardy made her long-awaited PVL debut with nine points and five excellent sets.
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