PVL: PLDT breaks through at Capital1’s expense

MANILA (UPDATED) — PLDT finally earned its first win of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Siklab series, beating Capital1 in four sets, 21-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21, on Saturday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Looking for just its first set win, the daylight eventually came for the High Speed Hitters in the second frame, leaning on a 5-1 finishing kick built mostly on Solar Spikers’ miscues from the 20-all mark.

An Erika Santos attack went wide to put PLDT on set point, 24-20, but Bella Belen was there to keep themselves in the hunt. Thankfully for the PLDT side, Savi Davison nailed the set-clinching kill, firing long to tie the match at 1-1.

With momentum on the High Speed Hitters’ side, as Davison regained her footing, PLDT took care of the next frames to enter the win column.

In Set 4, Capital1 had a last-ditch effort led by Belen, as they tore down a 23-18 lead into a narrow 23-21 count, but a Kianna Dy crosscourt hit and a Dell Palomata block on the Solar Spikers sophomore finished the match.

“Actually, ‘yung mindset talaga ng team going to this game, talagang mag-show up,” said libero-captain Kath Arado during the postgame press conference.

Arado anchored the floor defense with 27 excellent digs, while Davison had an all-around performance of 28 points, 10 excellent digs, and 18 excellent receptions.

Dy provided the winning cause with 11 points, while Angge Alcantara pulled the strings with 15 excellent sets.

On the other hand, Capital1 saw its streak gone after the loss. Belen (23 points), Vanie Gandler (16 points), and Santos (15 points) did their part for the Capital1 spiking, although they ultimately fell short.