PLDT hitters zoom to the top

MANILA, Philippines — The PLDT High Speed Hitters may have found the final and vital piece in a potential championship team they have long been looking for.

She is named Kim Fajardo.

The battle-scarred 30-year-old setter came through with another all-around effort as she helped lift PLDT to a 25-17, 25-20, 25-19 drubbing of Akari yesterday to leapfrog to the top alongside powerhouse Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

Fajardo did almost everything as she dished out 14 excellent sets while chipping in eight hits including a pair of torpedo-like service aces in powering the High Speed Hitters to their sixth win in seven outings, which was good for a place at the helm.

Apart from her marauding attacking presence, Fajardo may have brought along a quality that PLDT has been eyeing for so long – championship culture.

After all, Fajardo came from a La Salle team that won two UAAP championships and three more from the defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the disbanded Philippine Superliga.

Majoy Baron, Fajardo’s teammate at F2, was at her best and paced her squad with 13 points while Savannah Davison scattered 11 hits also with help on their floor defense with a team-high 11 receptions.

But none shone brighter than Fajardo, whose arrival helped turn things around for the better for an ambitious franchise seeking a place in the sun.

Choco Mucho likewise seized a share of the lead after it posted its sixth win in seven outings with a 25-13, 25-19, 25-17 win of Galeries Tower.

The Highrisers dropped to 2-5.