PLDT execs look back at High Speed Hitters’ anatomy of PVL glory

Games Thursday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4 p.m. - Cignal vs Kobe Shinwa University

6:30 p.m. - PLDT vs  ZUS Coffee

MANILA, Philippines — Just like all success stories, the ones that the PLDT High Speed Hitters wrote began from nothing and ended up winning everything.

After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

“It didn’t happen overnight,” said PLDT team manager Bajjie del Rosario during the newly crowned PVL on Tour champion’s fans and media event Tuesday at the company’s building in Makati City.

It actually started with a dream when the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise joined the league four years ago.

From there, it took the squad two coaching changes — from Roger Gorayeb to George Pascua and its present one in Rald Ricafort — and a massive manpower overhaul that saw PLDT plucking Mika Reyes and Jovielyn Pado from Sta. Lucia, Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron and Kim Fajardo from the defunct F2 Logistics, and libero and current captain Kath Arado from Petro Gazz.

But the biggest piece that got the High Speed Hitters over the hump was their heart and soul — Filipino-Canadian Savi Davison.

“She’s a relative of mine and we had to convince her to play for us first for a few years and save up for medical school. We’re happy that she did,” said Jude Turcuato, PLDT and Smart head of sports and MVP Sports Foundation executive director, referring to the high-scoring Davison.

Davison, who arrived two years ago, was happy she made the right decision.

“I go where my heart is. And it’s here,” she said.

PLDT senior vice president and head consumer business John Palanca, for his part, said they’re jubilant with the breakthrough PVL championship and whatever big comes next will just be an icing on the cake.

“Winning the championship in the Invitational and future conferences will just be a bonus,” he said.

PLDT, already assured of a finals ticket with a 4-0 record in the PVL Invitational, will try to preserve its unbeaten run as it clashes with ZUS Coffee (0-3) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Japanese guest team Kobe Shinwa University (2-1) aims to stay in the finals hunt as it tangles with Cignal (1-3) at 4 p.m.