PLDT Holds Off Galeries Tower to Set Up Winner-Take-All Semifinal Battle With Choco Mucho

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PLDT survived a spirited fight from Galeries Tower on Saturday, but the real test is still ahead. The High Speed Hitters now face a virtual winner-take-all clash with Choco Mucho on Nov. 19 for a spot in the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.

PLDT beat the Highrisers, 25-13, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The win lifted the High Speed Hitters to 4-3, level with the Flying Titans in third place, while already-eliminated Galeries Tower fell to 1-6.

Jessa Ordiales delivered the match-clinching attack as PLDT secured a one-hour, 54-minute victory over the Highrisers at Philsports Arena. [PVL Images]

Why Nov. 19 Matters for PLDT

PLDT and Choco Mucho both carry 4-3 records into the Nov. 19 meeting at SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Flying Titans also arrive with momentum after surviving a five-set thriller against Creamline last Thursday, which raises the stakes even higher.

PLDT is coming off a five-set loss to Farm Fresh last Tuesday, so the win over Galeries Tower served as a bounce-back. Still, the team admitted that lapses in focus allowed the Highrisers to force a fourth set.

Libero Kath Arado, who earned Player of the Game honors with 22 excellent digs, said PLDT must learn from those lapses. “We cannot afford to be complacent against Choco Mucho,” she said.

Arado added that the team must sharpen its execution and sustain its intensity from the opening serve. “We have to take it one point at a time because we know they won’t simply give us the game,” she said.

Davison Injury Clouds PLDT’s Semis Push

Savi Davison paced PLDT with 21 points and 16 receptions, but she left the match after landing awkwardly late in the fourth set. She sustained what was described as a slight ankle injury, and her availability for Nov. 19 was not immediately clear.

Galeries Tower saved three match points after her exit before Jessa Ordiales sealed the one-hour, 54-minute win with a thunderous attack. Kim Dy and Dell Palomata finished with 10 points apiece, while Ordiales added eight.

PLDT outhit Galeries Tower, 57-47, and held a 14-7 edge in blocks, including four from Palomata. The High Speed Hitters also cashed in on 23 free points while committing 21 errors of their own.

Erika Deloria and Jean Asis led Galeries Tower with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Aiza Pontillas and Jade Gentapa each added nine as the Highrisers stole the third set, 25-23.

PLDT opened the fourth set with an 8-1 run and led 15-7 before closing out the match. Those lapses did not cost the High Speed Hitters against Galeries Tower, but they could against a resurgent Choco Mucho.