PLDT booked the second PVL on Tour quarterfinals ticket, dealing Nxled its first loss in a 25-11, 25-17, 25-21 decision on Saturday in Cebu City.
Only the High Speed Hitters remain undefeated in the preseason tournament at 4-0.
READ: PLDT rescued from training gym due to heavy rains, flooding
PLDT joins sister team Cignal in the playoffs, with two more outright quarterfinals seats in the offing. The remaining four spots will be contested in the knockout round by the bottom four teams from both pools.
"'Yung momentum, napaka-importante. Hindi pwedeng magpadaan ng game na dadaanan lang namin," said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort.
"'Yung mga wins namin, aside sa record, 'yung feeling na nananalo, importante sa team namin kasi naghahabol kami ng ganung experience [...] Happy kami na naka-perform lahat at kahit papaano ,nakaikot kami ng mga tao so hopefully, magtuloy-tuloy pa."
Majoy Baron took over the scoring front with 13 points on 11 attacks and two aces to lead the quarters-clinching win.
Savi Davison also returned to action for PLDT after an extended break back home in Canada, scoring two points in her late third-set cameo.
When it rains, it pours
Days after braving heavy rains and floods in training, PLDT stormed to a 17-3 start in the opening set where it posted eight of its 13 blocks and seven attacks as a team.
Birthday girl Kianna Dy lifted the High Speed Hitters with a team-high three blocks, gifting her team a nine-point outing as she turns 30.
There were no answers from Nxled in all three sets, who had EJ Laure-Carino show the way with 11 points despite not playing the entire first set.
PLDT will shoot for a five-game prelims sweep over winless Galeries Tower on Sunday before Nxled aims to seize its second shot at the playoffs against a streaking Farm Fresh side.
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