HITTERS BEGIN TITLE QUEST VS SOLAR SPIKERS

PLDT High Speed Hitters will begin its quest for third straight crown when it battles Capital1 Solar Spikers on Monday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The game is set at 4 p.m., with the High Speed Hitters looking to extend their winning streak in the import-laden conference.

PLDT comes into the match riding high on confidence after winning the PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference titles.

With a strong lineup featuring Kim Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, and Mika Reyes, the High Speed Hitters are determined to make it a hat-trick of championships.

With so many expectations on their side, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort brushed off the idea of “three peat.” “That’s probably the main thing: we weren’t aiming for the three-peat or anything because it’s a completely new conference, a new competition,” he said in Filipino.

“I guess that was the initial feeling: we didn’t set the three-peat as a goal since we’re facing a brand-new conference and competition, the three-peat wasn’t our goal initially, simply because it’s a new conference, new competition,” he added.

However, Capital1 Solar Spikers won’t go down without a fight.

Led by Bella Belen, the team is looking to pull off an upset.

With a solid squad and a new import, Oleksandra Bytsenko, Capital1 is poised to give PLDT a run for their money.

Belen, in a nullified match versus Choco Mucho, led the scoring for her team with 22 points.

“I know that I can still top my previous performance. I can do more, and I admit that there’s still first-game jitters. I think I can improve and put up a better game,” Belen said.

“I am not thinking about being the go-to hitter so much, at the end of the day, volleyball is a team sport,” she added after a loss over Choco Mucho in tight three-set loss.

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated match between the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Cignal Super Spikers is set at 6:30 p.m.

The Flying Titans, led by American import Marlee Smith, are heavily favored to win, but they’ll need to bring their A-game to overcome the rebranded Super Spikers.

After disappointing finishes in the previous two conferences, Choco Mucho is looking to bounce back and reclaim their top form. With Smith’s impressive skills on the court, the team has high hopes for a strong performance.

Meanwhile, the Cignal Super Spikers are bolstered by the addition of Greek import Eva Chantava, who brings valuable experience to the team.

2025-10-12T16:14:48Z