THERE is already plenty of evidence that Savi Davison can score, defend and do practically everything PLDT needs from its reigning PVL Invitational MVP.
But put Creamline on the other side of the net, and Davison somehow finds another gear.
READ: PLDT win derails Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever PVL finals
Her career-high 37 points, 24 receptions and 18 digs in PLDT's latest showdown with the Cool Smashers on Sunday became the latest entry in what has become a growing list of top-class performances against the league's most successful franchise.
In their last four meetings alone, Davison has scored at least 26 points against Creamline every time and produced triple-doubles in three of them.
For Davison, though, the answer may be simple. There is something about playing against the team in pink, the atmosphere surrounding the matchup and the challenge of going up against a program that has set the standard in the PVL.
“This is what we play for. I love the atmosphere when we play Creamline. I love to compete. I love being pushed. And I think in those situations, we thrive,” Davison said.
Davison said Creamline's stature as the league andthe sport’s benchmark naturally raises the stakes for everyone on the other side.
“I think it’s because they are looked at as the best team. They have the legacy of being a very hard team to beat,” she said.
“When you go up against the best, you want to be better. In that kind of sense, we push ourselves to want to prove to everyone that we can also contend as one of the top teams as well in the PVL, although not this conference.”
That mentality has repeatedly translated into monster numbers for Davison. Her latest masterpiece may have pushed her personal ceiling even higher, but it was also another reminder that Creamline has become the opponent capable of drawing out some of her best volleyball.
Still, Davison knows that producing in marquee games is only part of what separates a contender from a champion.
“It's showing up during the big games, but it's also being consistent when we're not pushed as hard as we want to be. That's when great teams kind of make their stand, and play and perform.”
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