Club affiliations take a back seat when unbeaten PLDT collides with winless sister team Cignal today (Tuesday) as the PVL Reinforced Conference resumes action at the Araneta Coliseum following a successful weekend stint in Ilagan, Isabela.
Gametime is set at 6:30 p.m., capping another action-packed triple-header.
The High Speed Hitters enter the match not just undefeated but virtually untouchable. Riding a remarkable 15-game winning streak that stretches back to their dominant title runs in both the PVL On Tour and the Invitational Conference, they have been a model of consistency, power and discipline.
Their confidence is well-founded. They’ve swept both their opening games in the import-laced conference, dispatching the Capital1 Solar Spikers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in straight sets – testament to the team’s superior depth, cohesive system and upgraded offensive arsenal.
Spearheading PLDT’s relentless firepower is Russian import Anastasiia Bavykina, whose towering presence at the net has proven almost uncontainable. Backed by the sharp playmaking of veteran setter Kim Fajardo, the High Speed Hitters are not just relying on their imports, but also drawing heavy fire from Fil-Canadian Savi Davison and locals like Kim Dy, Majoy Baron and Dell Palomata.
Their strength lies in balance: Bavykina leads the charge, but PLDT’s offense is multidimensional and hard to predict, with scoring threats from both wings, quick middles and smart transition plays that often leave defenders scrambling.
In contrast, Cignal is still searching for answers after dropping its first two matches of the conference organized by Sports Vision and backed by ICTSI, Milcu and Fabriano. The Super Spikers showed promise in their four-set loss to Choco Mucho but faltered against the rising Farm Fresh Foxies in straight sets. While talented, the Eva Chantava-reinforced side has yet to find its rhythm or match the cohesion shown by the league leaders.
The challenge for Cignal, which also boasts of Erika Santos, Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuña, is not just to stop its skid but to contain the onslaught of PLDT’s superior attacking game and impenetrable net defense. Blocking, in particular, has been one of PLDT’s deadliest weapons, with Baron, Palomata and Dy forming a towering wall that frustrates opposing hitters.
Meanwhile, Farm Fresh looks to maintain its unbeaten run as it takes on Capital1 in the 1:30 p.m. opener.
The Foxies, led by explosive import Eli Rousseaux – who lit up the scoreboard with a 38-point performance in her debut against the Nxled Chameleons – have strung together impressive wins over Nxled and Cignal. With another victory, the Foxies can virtually secure a Top 3 spot in Pool A, a key step toward advancing to the next round.
But Capital1 is coming off a morale-boosting win over Nxled, led by import Sasha Bytsenko’s historic 39-point explosion – the highest individual output so far in the conference. Top rookie Bella Belen also showed poise beyond her years with a 15-point outing, finally securing her first win in the pros.
Their matchup against Rousseaux and the deep Farm Fresh bench – which includes veterans Ces Molina, Rizza Cruz, Lorene Toring and Riri Meneses – promises to be a high-octane battle of scorers and tactical wits.
In the 4 p.m. match, Choco Mucho aims to bounce back after a straight-set beating at the hands of PLDT. Despite a strong debut from import Marlee Smith, who tallied 20 points, the Flying Titans struggled to contain the High Speed Hitters’ vaunted firepower and fell short on both offense and defense.
They now face a struggling Nxled squad, which is still adjusting to the pace of the conference and seeking stability around Spanish import Paola Martinez.
With a solid all-Filipino lineup already showing flashes of brilliance, the Flying Titans are hopeful that another game with Smith will bring better chemistry and improved results as they chase their second win.
