PLDT sweeps Capital1 to open bid for third straight title

PLDT has picked up where it left off, dominating Capital1 with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-23 win to kick off its campaign in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The High Speed Hitters have now won 14 games in a row, a stretch that saw them capture two off-season titles in the PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference.

They are now looking to add another championship to their haul.

Savi Davison fronted the offense with 22 points anchored on 15 attacks and seven huge blocks, together with nine receptions, while import Anastasiia Bavykina churned out 15 markers and 10 receptions as they went 1-0 in Pool A. 

It was still a grind out win for PLDT with Rachel Austero denying Bavykina on the open as the Solar Spikers gained a 20-19 lead despite losing libero Romal Doromal, who was stretchered off the court and was later reported to be suffering from muscle cramps on her stomach.

Davison was clutch, unleashing back-to-back hits from the back row and the left wing to force a 21-all deadlock before Kim Kianna Dy rejected Oleksandra Bytsenko for a one-point lead. 

Bytsenko's attack then sailed out to allow PLDT secure a much-needed 23-21 lead, but the import recovered and unloaded a heavy hammer from the left side to pull Capital1 within one. 

Capital1, though, could not sustain the momentum after setter Iris Tolenada committed a costly service error as PLDT clinched the match point before Davison delivered the punctuation off a kill. 

Bytsenko paced Capital1 with 20 points and 12 receptions while rookie Bella Belen chimed in with 13 markers, but those were not enough as they went 0-1 in Pool A. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News