Enter PLDT Elena Samoilenko leads the High Speed Chasers to live a new day. –PVL PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines – Elena Samoilenko burst on with 27 points to lift the PLDT to a second straight win after beating sister team, Cignal, 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, and stay put semi-final hunt in the 2022 Premier League Volleyball League Consolidation Conference on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
As they continued to play with their backs against the wall, the Russian once again solved the problem with his own hands, launching 23 nails and 4 clearances to keep the Speeder in the semi. with an improved 3-4 record.
When Cignal threatened the PLDT to force a decider with a 13-8 margin before it was cut to a one-point lead, 15-14, 6-foot-4 Samoilenko decided her team was back, defeated. Dell. Palomata kills to turn it into a 21-15 advantage.
Palomata extended the lead for the PLDT with a 23-19 score but Ces Molina and Glaudine Troncoso scored consecutive returns to keep them in an impressive distance, 23-21. Samoilenko stopped the bleeding ending a long rally to hit the match point, 24-21.
Rachel Anne Daquis made an attack from behind but the score was nullified when a foot foul by PLDT coach George Pascua was successful, ending the game which lasted two hours and 19 minutes.
“I told them our goal is to win this game, as much as possible. When we dropped the third game, I told them: don’t stop because the game isn’t over yet,” said High Speed Hitters coach Pascua in the Philippines. “Because if we stop after winning the first two sets, we can take the lead and lose this game. I reminded them to keep fighting.”
“I’m just glad they did what we do in practice. For me, when you have a great defense, you have what it takes to stop a strong attacking team. That’s where we’ve focused before, our service,” he added.
Dell Palomata by PLDT. –PVL PHOTOS
Palomata is also instrumental for PLDT with 15 points. Mika Reyes has 11 points from seven attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while Toni Rose Basas has 10 more markers, including two aces, and has 15 digs.
High Speed Hitters missed starter Fiola Ceballos for the second straight game due to a muscle strain in her left calf she suffered two weeks ago in a four-set loss to Petro Gazz in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Ceballos is in doubt as the PLDT wraps up its knockout campaign against Chery Tiggo on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena. But the High Speed Hitters are determined to wipe out their final game with a semi-final chance already out of their hands. Both Creamline and Chery Tiggo made it to the shortlist.
“We need to win at least three sets because if there was a draw on the scoring system we would at least have a 3-0 win in our last game. We still hope to reach the semi-finals,” said Pascua.
Cignal’s two-match winning streak was cut short, down to 3-3.
Tai Bierria leads HD Spikers with 16 points and 13 excellent receptions. Ces Molina had 15 points, while Rose Doria and Ria Meneses scored 14 and 12 respectively as the two central midfielders combined for nine of the team’s 11 points.
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