Mika makes PLDT look good

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT Home Fibr drew strength from Mika Reyes as it whitewashed an injury-plagued Chery Tiggo, 25-18, 25-19, 25-14, yesterday to jumpstart its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena.

Reyes patrolled the middle with impunity and fired a match-high 15 points on 12 spikes and three kill blocks to help the Power Hitters get off to a strong start.

“We just trained hard and our coach kept pushing us to succeed,” said the charismatic Reyes referring to PLDT mentor George Pascua.

“Winning our first game is so important but we need to practice more and polish everything,” said Reyes.

“We’re getting the kind of chemistry missing in the past. We wanted to start strong and our goal was to win our first game and hope to sustain the momentum,” said PLDT coach George Pascua, whose wards will be tested when they face powerhouse Creamline on Saturday.

The duel also produced heroes in the troika of Toni Rose Basas, Julianne Marie Samonte and Fiona Mae Ceballos, who scattered 14, 11 and 10 hits, respectively, for the club eyeing to improve on a fifth-place finish in the Open Conference early this year.

The Crossovers fell to their second straight defeat after succumbing to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23, in the opener last Saturday.

It did not help that Chery Tiggo missed the services of Dindin Santiago-Manabat due to sprain and EJ Laure, Buding Duremdes, Alina Bicar and Justine Dorog because of health and safety protocols.

Creamline relied on the power-spiking tandem of Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza as it turned back old rival Petro Gazz, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, to set in motion its bid for a second straight crown.

Carlos, the reigning Open Conference MVP, smashed 18 points while Galanza fired 17 of her own as the Cool Smashers claimed their first win that came at the expense of the very same team they swept in two games in the finals last conference.

The duo also made up for one of Alyssa Valdez’ rare off-nights with just eight points. The game also saw the return of Michele Gumabao for Creamline.