Davison provides firepower for PLDT
Injury-plagued PLDT went to Fil-Canadian spiker Savannah Davison and its rock-solid floor defense as it turned back a stubborn Nxled, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22, yesterday to seize a piece of the lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena. Davison did the attacking by firing a match-best 13 points including key hits late in the third set while newly minted skipper Kath Arado took care of the defending with 29 digs and 12 exceptional reception as the High Speed Hitters leapfrogged to the top alongside the Chery Tiggo Crossovers with pristine 2-0 records. Jessie de Leon and Majoy Baron scattered 11 and 10 points, respectively, in helping fill the gaping hole created by injuries to Kianna Dy, who will be out for more than a month, and former captain Mika Reyes, out for the rest of the year. “Safe na end part of the conference,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort when asked of the date of Dy’s return from a knee injury. “Hindi namin minamadali. We’re focused on her rehab.” Ivy Lacsina tried to carry the fight for the Chameleons by uncorking a team-high 12 hits but didn’t draw enough support. They just couldn’t evade Arado’s marauding defense. Arado, a many-time Best Libero awardee, later said the key was having a winning mindset. “Mindset ng bawat isa, gusto namin i-continue manalo, kaya pinaghirapan namin sa training,” she said. And PLDT hopes to carry that same mentality when it meets on Saturday its toughest foe to date – Petro Gazz. “Pagaaralan namin ang Petro Gazz at ngayon pa lang, naka-mindset kami na ito kalaban namin at kung ano kailangan gawin,” said Arado. Nxled sputtered to 0-2.