High Speed Hitters down Highrisers for fifth straight victory

PLDT survived the hot start of Galeries Tower and came away with a 29-27, 25-14, 25-18 victory on Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The High Speed Hitters banked on their spikers to squeak past the Highrisers in the opening frame before dictating the pace in the next two en route to improving their win-loss record to 5-1.

It was the fifth straight triumph for PLDT after bowing to Cignal in four sets in its opening game last Oct. 15.

Erika Santos spearheaded the High Speed Hitters with 17 points highlighted by 15 kills, including the crucial spike that tied the game at 27-all in the tight opening set.

Following that kill, an attack error from Galeries Tower followed by a down-the-line spike from Fiola Ceballos sealed the set victory for PLDT before it took advantage of Galeries Tower’s lost steam in the next two.

Royse Tubino also shone for the High Speed Hitters with 14 points including 12 kills, while Rachel Austero, Savannah Davison and Mika Reyes combined for 19 points.

The two teams kept the game close in the first frame before Dim Pacres’ off-the-block spike put Galeries Tower at set point, 24-22.

But the Highrisers failed to close the set in their favor as the High Speed Hitters found their groove back to win the match in one and a half hours.

Andrea Marzan finished with 11 points to become the lone double-digit scorer for Galeries Tower, which skidded to its sixth straight defeat and tied with Gerflor.