By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Tuesday
(Filoil Centre, San Juan City)
4 p.m. – Akari vs Nxled
6:30 p.m. – Cignal vs PLDT
PLDT stakes its unbeaten record against a Cignal crew aching to get back on track in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
The High Speed Hitters are gunning for a fourth straight win in as many outings in their 6:30 p.m. confrontation with the Super Spikers, who are still licking their wounds from a straight-set defeat against the Nxled Chameleons last weekend that halted their three-game winning run.
Also determined to get back into the winning column is Nxled which battles sister team Akari in their 4 p.m. tussle.
The Chameleons are fresh from a stunning four-set upset loss to the Galeries Tower a few days back that sent them crashing back to earth with a 3-1 card.
The Chargers, for their part, are aching to crawl out of the dark cellar with a 0-3 record.
Showing they’re a force to be reckoned with, PLDT continues to flex its might, dropping just two sets across its last three victories.
At the heart of that surge is their balanced scoring attack orchestrated masterfully by veteran setter Kim Fajardo, who has been maximizing the firepower of her spikers.
Expect Fajardo to bank anew on Savi Davison, Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes and Alleiah Malaluan, who all scored in twin figures in their latest four-set victory over the Akari Chargers.
Other than protecting its clean slate, PLDT also aims to erase the stigma of that stinging loss to Cignal in the previous conference that halted its 15-game winning streak.
PLDT coach Rald Ricafort is not taking anything lightly.
“Malakas ang Cignal. For sure, magiging mahirap. Lalo na yung mga usual nila, si Erika (Santos) and yung mga middles. So paghahandaan natin yan,” said Ricafort.
Indeed, Cignal is hardly backing down.
Out to regain their composure after slipping to a 3-1 card, Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler are expected to be at the forefront of their assault along with Gel Cayuna and Roselyn Doria.
