PVL: PLDT completes semifinal cast, nips Chery Tiggo

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The semifinals cast is now complete.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters booked the last semifinal ticket in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference after a nail-biting five-set win over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

PLDT bucked the absence of Jovy Prado as they slipped past Chery Tiggo, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 15-12, to advance in the playoffs at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Tuesday.

The High Speed Hitters join the Creamline Cool Smashers, Cignal HD Spikers, and Chery Tiggo Crossovers in facing the two foreign teams in the round-robin semis beginning Thursday.

The Crossovers, on the other hand, missed the playoff bus with a 2-2 slate. They will face the Choco Mucho Flying Titans for the battle for seventh place.

Mean Medrez and Dell Palomata took charge in the crucial part of the fifth frame, delivering the final blows of the match. Mendrez finished with 16 points on 13 attacks on three attacks while Palomata had 14 points.

“Siguro test of character na laging nire-remind sa players. Galing na kami dun sa pangit na talo. Sabi namin ang mindset namin today ay talagang wag ng bigyan ng pressure yung laro na kung sino mananalo yun yung makakapasok,” head coach Rald Ricafort said.

“Basta normal game. Tapos yung motivation namin na extra yung kay Jov pa rin kasi gusto talaga namin ibigay sa kanya.”

PLDT had the chance to close the match in four sets as they reached 23-21 after down-the-line attack of Royse Tubino.

But Mylene Paat and Eya Laure overturned the match to put them at set point. PLDT committed two costly errors in the frame to extend the game in a decider.

It was a nip and tuck battle in the fifth set with Chery Tiggo holding a slim 8-6 gap after a drop ball and block point of Joyme Cagande. But PLDT stayed in striking distance until Mendrez gave them an 12-11 lead off her down-the-line spike.

A quick hit of Palomata gave them a 13-11 breather but Imee Hernandez answered back with the same attack, 12-13.

Palomata would then reject Hernandez mightily to put PLDT at match point before Mendrez blocked Laure’s push to end the game.

The Crossovers wasted the 29 points of Paat on 22 attacks, four blocks, and three aces. However, the Laure sisters were limited to just 14 combined points in the entire match.