By NIKOLE JAVIER
PLDT wrecked the professional debut of former Ateneo star Faith Nisperos with a 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 drubbing of Akari in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Saturday, July 1, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Fittingly, it was also PLDT’s opening game in Pool A and the High Speed Hitters immediately fired a strong warning to defending champion Creamline and other title contenders that they meant business this time around.
Rhea Dimaculangan tallied five points and 11 excellent sets as she put her playmaking skills on full display that benefited her teammates to the sheer joy of their supporters.
Nisperos was held to just five points after she was tightly marked by the High Speed Hitters.
It was Dell Palomata who topscored for PLDT with 14 points on 10 attacks, three blocks and an ace, while Jovielyn Prado finished with 13 points.
Mich Morente, for her part, added 11 points highlighted by three service aces.
It was an 18-5 start in the opening set for PLDT after Dimaculangan’s 1-2 play kept Akari’s defense scrambling.
The Chargers momentarily recovered and went on a 5-1 run capped by Lycha Ebon’s back-to-back points to cut the deficit by a single-digit, 19-10.
However, Morente hammered down three consecutive hits to widen the gap anew, 22-10.
PLDT went on a cruise from there despite Akari’s determined challenge.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat as the lone double-digit scorer for Akari with 10 points.
The Chargers joined the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the Gerflor Defenders in the losing column in Pool A with one each.
Meanwhile, the league, organized by Sports Vision and backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar, takes a 9-day break to give way to the men’s VNL (Volleyball Nations League) staging with a heavy four-game bill marking the resumption on July 11 over at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
