MANILA, Philippines – At the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday, the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan put on an outstanding effort as PLDT ended Akari’s early charge with a decisive comeback victory 25 to 16, 25 to 16, 25 to 23.

The seasoned setter made it appear as though PLDT’s designated hitters had it easy. Her excellent ball distribution confused the Chargers’ front-row defense, opening the way for a string of points, the last of which used Dell Palomata as a scapegoat to leave Fil-Canadian Savannah Davison essentially unmolested for an uncontested match-clinching kill.

However, Dimaculangan stood out in the one-hour, 28-minute match that the High Speed Hitters dominated from the beginning. Palomata went on to score 13 points, including 10 on quick assaults, to win best player honors.

The former UST standout ended with 15 strong sets and delivered four points, comprising two aces, to help PLDT bounce back from a painful four-set loss to sister team Cignal in the first game of the season-ending conference last Sunday.

The speedy High Speed Hitters thwarted the Chargers’ attempt to make up for their unexpected five-set loss to the Logistics team F2 Cargo Transporter last Tuesday by defeating them, leaving Chery Tiggo alone in first place thanks to PLDT’s triumph.

The Crossovers defeated the Galeries Tower Highrisers earlier in the match with a methodical 25 to 14, 25 to 18, 25 to 21 victory to take the lead with a 2 to 0 record, including their shaky three-set victory against the Farm Fresh Foxies last Tuesday.

Davison led the High Speed Hitters, who outscored the Chargers 51 to 33 in attacks, with 19 points, including 14 attack points and three blocks. Erika Santos and the hard-hitting Honey Royse Tubino contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Both of the volleyball teams, PLDT and Akari, showed off their competitive attitudes in this exciting match. The fact that PLDT was able to take advantage of Akari’s unsteady service reception had a big impact on the result. The Chargers only had one ace after the High Speed Hitters had hit eight.

The Chargers outperformed the High Speed Hitters in terms of unforced errors, making only nine as opposed to their 13. This demonstrated the Chargers’ dedication to accuracy and effectiveness throughout the game.

Faith Nisperos, who led her squad with an outstanding 11 points, was crucial for Akari. Dindin Manabat, who supplied 10 points, Joy Soyud, and Fifi Sharma, who each contributed seven and five points, provided strong assistance for her.

The Chargers made strong attempts to extend the contest as the third set came to a close, and the game became intense. Even better, they were able to seize the lead twice, most memorably at 22-21 after Santos mishit the ball. However, PLDT’s tenacity was evident. After a costly Nisperos assault error and Jessey de Leon’s ace, the High Speed Hitters were able to win the match. The atmosphere was palpable tense.

Dimacyulangan demonstrated her skill in a crucial situation by positioning Mika Reyes for a quick attack that tied the game. This back-and-forth conflict demonstrated both teams’ tenacity and talent, making for an exciting showdown.

In the end, the dynamics of the game exposed the intense competition and huge stakes in the volleyball world. Every play and point might decide the outcome of the game, highlighting how crucial strategy, teamwork, and composure are under these high-pressure circumstances.