By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Savannah Davison is just built different.
When the PLDT High-Speed Hitters needed someone to ignite a much-needed spark after the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles stunned them in the opening set, it was Davison who vowed to take responsibility and responded like a queen.
During the highly-anticipated playoff eliminator game, Davison displayed another masterpiece performance and led the High-Speed Hitters to a 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24, victory over ZUS Coffee, helping PLDT grab a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on March 4, 2025.
Davison equalized her offensive career-high in the PVL and dropped 34 big points, saving the High-Speed Hitters from a sloppy opening set that turned out into gold when they scored a reverse sweep in the final three frames.
It wasn’t an ideal start for PLDT after early unforced errors allowed ZUS Coffee to capitalize and execute their early offensive sets.
The Thunderbelles turned it up after scoring a barrage of cross-court hits, backstopped by Thea Gagate’s middle-blocking prowess that prevented PLDT from any comeback attempts in the first set.
Just when ZUS Coffee thought that they could lean on what worked in the first, the more experienced High-Speed Hitters changed the script and fed Davison early in the following set that helped set the tone.
Davison was unstoppable with her attacks and still did damage when she rotated at the backline. The Filipina-Canadian spiker became the catalyst for PLDT, heating up at the most perfect time to tie the affair at 1-all.
The waxing hot star continued to do damage in the third set despite any coverage from Gagate. Davison adjusted when the ZUS Coffee middle blockers smothered her and chose to play a cleverer approach of utilizing the drop ball to perfection.
However, the Thunderbelles refused to back down in the fourth and final set when they got close to forcing a deciding fifth after reaching match point, 24-23.
Answering the call for PLDT was no other than Davison, who hammered her 34th point that leveled the game at 24-all. Icing the game for the High-Speed Hitters was the duo of Fiola Ceballos and Erika Santos who provided the final two markers that sealed the deal.
Aside from her 34 points, Davison also stuffed the stat sheets and capped off the win with an all-around performance of 11 excellent receptions and two service aces.
“Credits to ZUS pinaghandaan din talaga nila, nagpakita sila ng ibang match-up. Nagulat kami nung first set, pero at least naka-recover kami at naka-perform kami nung endgame nung fourth set. Napaka-importante,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort after the playoff-sealing victory.
After a hardly-fought win, the High-Speed Hitters will have over a week of rest before gracing back to the playing court for the quarterfinals where they will be facing Sisi Rondina and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on March 15, 2025.
