PVL: PLDT hopes new recruits provide much-needed boost for deeper run

MANILA, Philippines —Parading new recruits including Filipino-Canadian Savannah Davison, PLDT High Speed Hitters are hoping they have found the missing pieces in their bid to reach the top of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). “She is doing okay and already adjusting to the team. She is nice and getting along with her teammates. Hopefully, [her addition] is enough to help us perform well this conference,” Rald Ricafort told reporters in Filipino during the All-Filipino Conference press launch on Wednesday. PLDT fell short in reaching the first All-Filipino finals last March after losing to Petro Gazz in a do-or-die semifinal Game 3 and placed fourth after getting swept by F2 Logistics in the bronze series. The High Speed Hitters reached the semifinal round of the Invitational Conference but they placed fifth with a 2-3 record after missing Jovy Prado due to a season-ending ACL injury. PLDT signed Davison, who played in Division 1 of the US NCAA for both the University of Oklahoma and New Mexico State University, as well as veteran middle blocker Lut Malaluan and setter Angelica Legacion to reinforce core players Mika Reyes, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kath Arado, Mean Mendrez, Dell Palomata, Mich Morente, and Royse Tubino. “It’s a big boost to our team because our core is already solid and we hope that our additions will have heavy contributions. Hopefully, we can get more wins compared to our previous conference and reach the end [of the tournament],” said Ricafort, who steered Petro Gazz to a Reinforced Conference title last December before transferring to PLDT early this year. The PLDT coach is also happy with the “faster than usual” recovery of Prado but he said that she still needs to complete six to eight months of progress before returning to action. PLDT is ready to end the season with a bang after making the most of its long preparation when it kicks off its campaign against sister team Cignal on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.