PLDT eyes Invitational crown after topping the PVL on Tour

Alas players can join mother team in Reinforced Conference

FROM breaking a Premier Volleyball League (PVL) championship dry spell to claiming a second title in a row.

That is how the PLDT High Speed Hitters wanted to evolve as it shoots for the PVL Invitational Conference crown as an icing on the cake to their recent breakthrough title run in the PVL on Tour.

There would be no rest for the weary Manny V. Pangilinan-owned franchise as it plunges back into action at the start of the short but sweet six-team conference on Thursday when it clashes with a familiar foe in the Chery Tiggo Crossovers at the PhilSports Arena.

The 6:30 p.m. showdown will be a rematch between the two squads that fought an epic duel in the PVL on Tour finale with the High Speed Hitters edging the Crossovers via the full, five-set route.

“That’s part of the job. We celebrate Sunday, rest a bit and we’ll see each other on Thursday,” said a triumphant PLDT coach Rald Ricafort, who ended his team’s title drought since it joined the league four years ago.

The other teams seeing action in that conference are PVL on Tour third placer Creamline, Cignal and Japanese squads Kobe Shinwa University and the Kurashiki Ablaze.

About winning its first crown, Mr. Ricafort stressed it was about resilience.

“The team got stronger after all our past experiences. We got braver and more resilient,” he said.

PLDT also showed it also had firepower outside the prolific Savi Davison as evidence by some key players like Mika Reyes, Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy stepping up in the match that mattered most.

“I’ve been saying this all this time, that in practice and in games we’ve got some best athletes. They make me better every game,” said Ms. Davison.

For team captain and libero Kath Arado, all the hard work and sacrifices of the team paid off.

“We really started from scratch in our journey because we had a lot sacrifices and injuries that looked like it was never going to end. We’re just blessed to finally see that all of it paid off,” said Ms. Arado.

Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas players can now report back to their mother clubs in the PVL after the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) gave the go signal on Monday.

“They can join and play already for their respective club teams,” PVL President Ricky Palou on Monday told The STAR.

Mr. Palou, however, clarified that they can only play starting in October this year when the league stages its Reinforced Conference and not the short, six-team Invitational Conference unfurling on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

Before, the league was in strict compliance with the PNVF directive to bar national team players to practice and play with their PVL squads during a certain period of the year.

But the PNVF green light meant stars like Jia de Guzman of Creamline, Mhicaela “Bella” Belen of Capital1, Vanie Gandler of Cignal, Thea Gagate of ZUS Coffee, Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips of Petro Gazz and Fifi Sharma of Akari can rejoin their respective pro teams.

Mr. Palou also said these national players are still required to practice with Alas Pilipinas at least three times a week. — Joey Villar