John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

AVC Womens Champions League 2025 PLDT vs. Zhetysu VC- -8426

AVC: PLDT loses to Zhetysu in knockout QF, exits Champions League

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745485459163AVC Womens Champions League 2025 PLDT vs. Zhetysu VC- -8426.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The PLDT High Speed Hitters in the AVC Women&#x27;s Champions League on April 24, 2025. PVL Media Bureau"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The PLDT High Speed Hitters in the AVC Women&#x27;s Champions League on April 24, 2025. <em>PVL Media Bureau</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA, Philippines <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> – PLDT bowed out of the AVC Women&#x27;s Champions League after suffering a 13-25, 22-25, 20-25 defeat against Zhetysu in the knockout quarterfinal on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.</p><p>The High Speed Hitters made it close early in the opener, 9-8, but the Kazakhs pulled away midway, rallying to a dominant 16-5 run to clinch Set 1.</p><p>Set 2 was tightly contested, as Wilma Salas and Dell Palomata connived to unleash five unanswered points while banking on opposition errors to taste the lead for the first time at 21-20.</p><p>But the taller Kazakhs imposed their will, with Tatyana Nikitina leading the pack, blocking Salas at the net in back-to-back rallies as Yuliia Dymar finished the frame with an attack off Salas&#x27; hands for a 2-0 lead, 25-22.</p><p>The PLDT side showed signs of life after closing in at 21-20 in the third set, but that was it for them as the visiting squad rallied to a 4-0 run, capped by a semis-clinching spike from Zhetysu&#x27;s Valeriya Yakutina to close out the match.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/4/23/avc-expect-passion-and-grit-from-pldt-says-mika-reyes-0019"><strong>READ: AVC: Mika Reyes, PLDT vow to &#x27;fight for every point and leave it all on the court&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>Fil-Canadian spiker Savi Davison led the Pinoy team with 13 points built on 12 attacks and a block to go with nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions, while Salas delivered 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks including 11 excellent receptions.</p><p>Libero captain Kath Arado showed her defensive prowess with 17 excellent digs and added three excellent receptions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/4/22/avc-pldt-takes-2nd-seed-in-pool-d-nakhon-arranges-qf-clash-with-creamline-1821"><strong>READ: AVC: PLDT takes 2nd seed in Pool D, Nakhon arranges QF clash with Creamline<br/></strong></a></div><p>Palomata had seven points, while Kim Kianna Dy continued her resurgence, contributing five markers.</p><p>Despite exiting early, the High Speed Hitters remained proud of their performance.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/4/22/avc-creamline-reaches-quarterfinals-after-zhetysu-eliminates-al-naser-1543"><strong>READ: AVC: Creamline reaches quarterfinals after Zhetysu eliminates Al Naser<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;Siguro, coming from the Thailand game, naging proud naman kami sa ginalaw namin, definitely, mas mahirap talaga &#x27;yung game today,&quot; said coach Rald Ricafort.</p><p>&quot;Sa &#x27;kin naman, sobrang proud. Proud talaga ako sa ipinakita ng team. ‘Yung tutok kasi talaga ng bawat isa, kahit ‘yung mga coaches na talagang i-instruct talaga kami point-by point. Kinapos man pero madami kaming natutunan tsaka ‘yung gulang talaga namin medyo kulang pa,&quot; said Arado.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SoKMCmkGqpY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>