The PLDT ZUS Coffee win was a 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 sweep at the Santiago City Sports Complex in Isabela, with Savi Davison putting up a match-best 13 points in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Pulse Series.
It was the second straight victory for the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise, which opened the conference with two straight defeats. The High Speed Hitters, last year's PVL on Tour and Invitational champions, have flipped the script in a hurry.
PLDT ZUS Coffee win built around a tall block
ZUS Coffee arrived with a reputation for net defense, the kind that comes from an array of tall, big middle blockers. Beating that requires a plan, and Davison said PLDT had one.
"I think ZUS has pretty good athletes and blockers, it's our job to kind of work around it and it's a good thing we scouted them," Davison said.
Working around it is exactly what happened. ZUS Coffee topped out at 20 points in the first set, then 18 and 16, and the High Speed Hitters were never dragged into a tight finish.
Savi Davison and the momentum question
Davison's 13 points led the match, no small thing against a block that was supposed to make her life difficult. She handed the credit to preparation rather than power.
"Momentum is rolling and we're really doing well, hopefully it's good news from here on and we keep the streak going," she said.
That is the obvious question for PLDT now: whether two wins are the start of something or just a correction after a rough opening week. Davison sounds like she believes it is the former.
Dell Palomata keys six kill blocks
The most interesting number from this one: PLDT gave ZUS Coffee a dose of its own medicine with six kill blocks, four of them from Alas Pilipinas standout Dell Palomata.
So the team that was supposed to be outmatched at the net won the net. That matters for a PLDT side that has leaned heavily on Davison's scoring to get going.
The Thunderbelles dropped to 0-4 with the loss and are still chasing a first win in the conference. The blocking tools are there; the results are not following yet.
Creamline sweep Capital1 in the nightcap
Creamline slammed Capital1, 25-18, 31-29, 25-16, to remain unscathed in four outings. The Solar Spikers dropped to 2-3.
The second set was the only one that turned into a real fight, with Creamline pushed to 31-29 before closing it out. The other two sets stayed comfortable.
Creamline's 4-0 start sets the pace in the conference, and it is the cleanest record in this report.
For PLDT, the takeaway is simpler: the scouting worked, the block showed up, and the streak is alive. Davison's message is to keep it rolling.
This report is based on the original article from philstar.com.
