Davison fires 30 as PLDT wins opener

MANILA, Philippines — The PLDT High Speed Hitters knew a team from an Asian volleyball power like Thailand, which recently clinched a historic Olympic qualification, would be tough to handle.

That is why Savi Davison and the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise held nothing back in downing Est Cola, 25-23, 25-15, 26-28, 25-14, yesterday to launch their PVL Invitational title-retention bid at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think we were really unprepared coming into the game but we knew that we needed to adapt,” said Davison, who exploded for a match-high 30 points on 24 attacks and five blocks.

“Thailand is always a strong country to compete with in volleyball so I’m really glad we were able to fire from every angle and get it done in four sets,” she added.

The Thais, whose national team just won the Asian Championship in Tianjin, China to claim its first ever Olympic berth for Los Angeles 2028, put up a fight in the third set, staving off a sweep and forcing a fourth.

PLDT left nothing to chance after that, dominating the fourth set the way it did the first two to take the first step toward a back-to-back crown in the same conference.

There will be no rest as the High Speed Hitters, like the rest of the field in this short six-team tournament, return to action today against the dangerous Nxled Chameleons.

In the second game, Sachi Minowa uncorked a team-high 19 points as Creamline pounded a Brooke Van Sickle-less Nxled, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, that launched its bid for an 11th championship.