By Jean Malanum
MANILA – After a successful campaign at the PVL on Tour, PLDT is setting its sights on another title victory in the PVL Invitational which unfolds on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
PLDT will face Chery Tiggo at 6:30 p.m. right after the 4 p.m. match between Cignal and Creamline.
“There’s no added pressure. This is a new conference with new teams, so we’re going to go back to training, work hard, and bring the same confidence we had from the On Tour. It’s a fresh start, and we’re focused on showing up strong,” PLDT’s Kim Kianna Dy said in a press statement Wednesday.
Dy, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo and Savi Davison will lead the High Speed Hitters, who conquered the Crossovers, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8, in the PVL on Tour finale last Aug. 17.
The two-week Invitational tournament also features Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze, the 2023 champion, and the debuting Kobe Shinwa University squad. They will square off on Saturday.
Chery Tiggo veteran Aby Maraño said the Invitational is a valuable learning opportunity.
“We’re treating this as a chance to grow by playing against top-tier guest teams. These teams are really strong, so we’re committed to continuous learning. Our team core is still evolving, so we need to work even harder to find out what else we can bring after the On Tour,” she said.
Meanwhile, Creamline seeks to bounce back from a third-place finish at the PVL on Tour and defend the Invitational crown.
Leading the Cool Smashers are Michelle Gumabao, Jessica Galanza and Alyssa Valdez, who delivered double-digit scores in their 25-17, 29-27, 25-17 victory over Cignal in the PVL on Tour.
“This is very different –we’re used to being in the Finals, but we’re still happy because we finished the campaign on the podium. Now, we’ll focus on bouncing back in the Invitational,” Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses said. (PNA)
