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PLDT’s Mika Reyes attacks Choco Mucho’s defense. Photo PVL
Immediately after winning the championship, Rald Ricafort packed his bags and moved to another team. He was sold, he said, on the PLDT youth movement and decided to camp there.
He has returned to his former team again, this time as a semifinal opponent.
“At least we should have played before,” Ricafort said Thursday. “It was a good fight and we will review the game again.”
The stakes will be higher this time.
After closing out the No. 3 seed with a 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16 win over Choco Mucho in the All-Filipino Premier Volleyball League Conference at the PhilSports Arena, the High Speed Hitters will set up for the semifinals. draw against Petro Gazz.
The best-of-three semifinals will take place on Saturday with top seeds Creamline taking on rivals F2 Logistics in the other pairing.
Need to improve
Watch: PLDT coach Rald Ricafort and Mika Reyes after sealing the No.3 seed.
They will face Petro Gazz Angels in the semifinals pic.twitter.com/gNqOnxELwb
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) March 16, 2023
High Speed Hitters had a five-set preliminary round victory against the Angels, who won the Reinforced Conference in Ricafort to end last season, but Thursday’s match against the Flying Titans showed the need to improve their performance before looking for a place in the Finals. .
“[W]I have to work hard and try to keep my composure,” said Mean Mendrez, who led PLDT with 21 points.
The High Speed Hitters also need to reduce the same mistakes that stuck them in the first set against a squad that had nothing more.
“[The first set] is a lesson for us,” said Ricafort. “We have to learn from those mistakes. If we can control the game, we have to control it because it is difficult to play against a team that is not under pressure anymore.
Choco Mucho had a game against PLDT as the Titans stayed close in the third set despite trailing by six midway through. A strike by Isa Molde made it 23 points before PLDT star Mika Reyes came through with a running strike and a quick strike to close out the set.
“We reminded ourselves to only score one point first because we didn’t want to think we were going to lose the set,” Reyes said. “I think the reminders we gave ourselves helped us get to that point.”
The High Speed Hitters ran away with the fourth set to claim a 6-2 (win-loss) card and take the third seed.
‘Finish strong’
That means Mendrez and PLDT High Speed Hitters. – PVL PHOTOS
Mendrez finished with 18 attacks, two aces and a block, while Reyes unloaded 18 points built on 13 nails, four blocks and an ace.
“We have to finish strong, because [this game] will be the basis of our semi [seeding],” said Mendrez.
Veteran Rhea Dimaculangan led PLDT with 25 impressive sets with Dell Palomata and Jovy Prado contributing 12 points. Mich Morente added 10 points, including the game-winning strike that ended the two-hour, 21-minute contest.
Libero Kat Arado protected the floor with 31 digs while Prado helped her out with 13 digs and 10 receptions.
Choco Mucho missed the semifinals for the third straight tournament and won just two of eight games in coach Dante Alinsunurin’s first season for the franchise’s worst finish in the league.
Molde and Kat Tolentino led the Titans with 14 points apiece.
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