High Speed Hitters shine in Iloilo

MANILA, Philippines — PLDT imposed its indomitable will on ZUS Coffee as it hacked out a 25-20, 25-16, 25-15 victory yesterday to go into the qualifying round oozing with confidence in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the City of Passi Arena in Iloilo.

It was the fourth straight victory for the High Speed Hitters and eighth in 11 preliminary-round matches to end up as the fourth seed, behind No. 1 Creamline (10-1), No. 2 Petro Gazz (10-1) and No. 3 Cignal (8-3).

It also set the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise up against the same ZUS squad it just dominated in the one-game playoff phase unfurling Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

ZUS wound up at No. 9 with a 4-7 mark.

Another win over ZUS would send PLDT straight to the best-of-three quarterfinals.

The losers in that round would fall in the play-in round where they will be grouped into two with the top teams in each bracket claiming the last two tickets to the quarters.

“Mindset today (yesterday) is to perform para sa pairing, happy na na-control naman,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort.

Savi Davison spewed a match-best 17 points while Mary Joy Baron chipped in 10 hits.

In the nightcap, Choco Mucho pushed back Chery Tiggo, 25-18, 25-23, 26-24, to finish fifth after the prelims with an 8-3 slate.

The Flying Titans clash with the Crossovers, in eighth with a 5-6 card, in the qualifications.