MANILA, Philippines — PLDT drew strength from the duo of Savi Davison and Kianna Dy as it overcame a stellar effort by Bella Belen in a 25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17 victory over Capital1 yesterday that kept it unscathed in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Dy found the right time to shine as she delivered her best game in a long while with 20 points that she laced with 16 spikes and teamed up with Majoy Baron at the net by combining for nine of the High Speed Hitters’ whopping 15 blocks.
Davison also ended up with 20 points while Baron hammered in 11 hits as the Manny V. Pangilinan franchise booked their second straight victory, tied with Nxled (2-0) behind Cignal with its pristine 3-0 slate.
“We really prepared for Capital1,” said Dy.
Belen, Capital1’s celebrated first-round draft pick, went supernova with a match-best 28 points, including 26 off kills.
But Belen’s effort proved not enough to prevent the Solar Spikers from reeling to their second defeat against a victory.
“We tried to hold her scoring down but in fairness to her, she is a complete player and there’s a reason she’s an MVP candidate,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort of the supremely talented Belen.
Unlike Davison though, Belen didn’t draw much support apart from Shaya Adorador, who was the lone Capital1 player who chipped in a double-digit score of 13 hits.
Ricafort also noted his team’s quick recovery in the fourth set.
“The third set was really our opportunity to rotate the players but Capital1 just played really well. Good thing, we recovered and responded well in the fourth set,” he said.
The High Speed Hitters refused to let the Solar Spikers build on their Set 3 momentum, reasserting control early in the fourth behind Alleiah Malauan’s three straight points.