PLDT strengthened its push for the top seed with a decisive win built on three straight dominant sets on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal. After letting the opener slip away in a tense finish, the High Speed Hitters responded with a level of force and consistency that immediately reset the tone of the match.

Chery Tiggo threatened early by clawing back in the first set and capitalizing on late PLDT miscues, but the momentum swing proved short-lived. Once the High Speed Hitters settled into their system, they controlled pace, tempo, and pressure with little resistance.

Savi Davison once again carried PLDT’s scoring load with a career-best outburst, dictating the tempo at the wings and providing the emotional lift the team needed after a shaky start. Her activity at the back row and reliability in chaotic sequences helped stabilize rallies that Chery Tiggo had previously turned into opportunities.

PLDT takes control after early adversity

The response in the second set immediately revealed a major shift. PLDT applied sharper service pressure and forced Chery Tiggo into uncomfortable offensive looks, with Nastya Bavykina leading the charge from the line. Her service run not only widened the gap but also rekindled PLDT’s attacking flow as Davison hammered in clean looks off steady reception.

The High Speed Hitters maintained their edge through improved floor discipline and tighter block timing. Davison, Bavykina, and Kim Dy repeatedly found gaps in transition, while middle blockers Dell Palomata and Majoy Baron added enough deterrence at the net to disrupt the Crossovers’ tempo.

Chery Tiggo’s offense sputtered as the match progressed, with Yuni Batista shouldering a heavy workload and the supporting cast struggling to break free. PLDT responded by widening its coverage and denying clean lanes, turning open rallies into comfortable conversions.

Davison’s late surge fuels a relentless finishing push

The third set underscored PLDT’s growing confidence as Davison strung together a series of point-swinging hits that turned a modest edge into a commanding lead. Her ability to score from tight angles and out-of-system situations broke Chery Tiggo’s resolve midway through the frame.

The High Speed Hitters opened the fourth set with urgency, racing ahead behind quick attacks, aggressive serving, and well-timed defensive reads. Chery Tiggo made a brief run to close the gap, but PLDT answered with composed sequences that reasserted their advantage.

Palomata’s crisp middle hit, followed by a Davison strike and a long attack by the Crossovers, pushed PLDT safely ahead at the second technical timeout. From there, the High Speed Hitters tightened coverage and methodically closed out the match.

Davison finished with 36 points along with double-digit dig and reception numbers. Bavykina posted 16, Dy added nine, and Palomata delivered seven with four blocks. Setter Kim Fajardo steered the offense with 22 excellent sets, outplaying her opposite number as PLDT finalized its rise to the top.

The Crossovers dropped to 2-5 and now face a near-impossible climb to stay alive. Batista scored 27 but received limited help in crucial stretches, leaving Chery Tiggo with little room for error heading into its final assignments.