PLDT Claims No. 1 Spot Behind Davison’s Fiery 36-Point Explosion

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by Cristian Andal

The PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrate in their game against the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers.
The PLDT High Speed Hitters celebrate in their game against the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers. Photo: PVL Images.

If there was any doubt about PLDT’s championship intentions, the High Speed Hitters erased it with one of their most convincing performances of the conference.

After letting the opening set slip through their fingers, PLDT regrouped with laser focus and unleashed a three-set barrage to overpower Chery Tiggo, 26-28, 25-12, 25-16, 25-13, climbing to the top of the PVL Reinforced Conference standings Saturday night at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

And at the heart of the surge was Savi Davison, who turned in the kind of offensive masterpiece that will be talked about long after this season. The explosive scorer erupted for a career-high 36 points, sealing the match with a sharp off-the-block hit that capped a dominant one-hour, 42-minute display. Her performance didn’t just lift PLDT to a 6-1 slate; it pushed the High Speed Hitters to the No. 1 position, a massive advantage entering the knockout quarterfinals.

But Davison downplayed her historic night with the cool confidence of a true leader.

“It’s never about the number. I just really wanted the win,” she said. “Chery Tiggo’s a tough team. We knew they’d compete, so we worked hard all week to make sure we were ready.”

PLDT's Savi Davison (6).
PLDT's Savi Davison (6). Photo: PVL Images.

The way PLDT played from the second set onward showed just how ready they were.

After a wobbly opening frame, the High Speed Hitters delivered a near-clinic on both ends, sharper passing, stronger net presence, and a transition game that left the Crossovers chasing shadows. Their victory also created a tight three-way race at the top with Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee, but PLDT’s superior set ratio pushed them ahead entering the final elimination stretch.

Now, they face a must-sweep showdown against Petro Gazz on Thursday to lock down the top seed.

Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, slipped to 2-5 and now walks a razor-thin path to survival: they’ll need a sweep of Farm Fresh and plenty of help from other results to keep their season alive.

Davison wasn’t the only one cooking for PLDT. Import Nastya Bavykina bounced back from early miscues to finish with 16 points, while Kim Dy added nine. Dell Palomata anchored the middle with seven points and four blocks, and veteran setter Kim Fajardo steered the offense with 22 excellent sets.

Chery Tiggo leaned heavily on Yuni Batista’s 27 points, but support was scarce. Ara Galang added nine, while the rest of the Crossovers struggled to keep pace once PLDT hit full stride.

Chery Tiggo import Yuni Batista against PLDT's defense.
Chery Tiggo import Yuni Batista against PLDT's defense. Photo: PVL Images.

By the time the fourth set rolled around, PLDT had transformed into a machine. A blistering 10-3 start buried Chery Tiggo early, and every attempted rally was quickly shut down, first by Palomata, then by Davison, then by a defensive wall that refused to give an inch.

For a squad chasing the top seed, this was the kind of win that announces: PLDT isn’t just aiming for the playoffs, they’re aiming for control.