Savi Davison led the PLDT High Speed Hitters against Capital1 in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Arena on March 9, 2024. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – It only took 76 minutes for PLDT to beat its former coach Roger Gorayeb and his new team Capital1 in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.

The High Speed Hitters made fast work of the league's newcomers, 25-13, 25-15, 25-16, on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

PLDT star Savi Davison shone anew with 22 points on 19 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while Fiolla Ceballos joined her in twin-digit scoring with 10 markers. 

READ: PLDT suffers straight-sets beatdown from Brooke Van Sickle, Petro Gazz

Rald Ricafort's wards' triumph against the Solar Spikers was also a bounce-back win after falling to Petro Gazz in straight sets exactly a week ago. 

They learned their lesson from that downfall, said Ricafort. 

"'Yun naman 'yung lesson, na kailangan naming i-recover agad. Itong win ngayon 'yung result nung kinorrect namin nung last game," the PLDT mentor said. 

(That was the lesson that we needed to recover. This win was the result of our correction from the last game.) 

"Siguro skills-wise, hindi masyado 'yung sa adjustment pero 'yung maging mas consistent saka 'yun nga, ‘di kasi napa-practice 'yung pressure eh. So binabanggit ko sa kanila na pati 'yun kailangan dalhin sa training para naha-handle nang maayos sa game," he added. 

(We adjusted not skills-wise but in our consistency. We could not practice the pressure so I was telling them to bring it in training so we could handle it during the game.) 

They improved to a 3-1 record after previously sweeping Galeries and Nxled. 

Capital1, meanwhile, could not build on the momentum after scoring its breakthrough victory versus fellow league newbies Strong Group Athletics. 

READ: Despite breakthrough win, Coach Roger says Capital1 still has a lot to learn

Gorayeb, who left PLDT in 2022 "with a grateful heart," took on the challenge of assembling the Romeros' Capital1 earlier this year as he made a PVL comeback. 

His troops still fought in the final canto after trailing by only two points, 15-13, but the High Speed Hitters were too much as they uncorked a 6-0 run to pull away in the match. 

READ: Gorayeb's expertise to be tested in coaching PVL newcomer Capital1

"Happy with the win, happy na naka-contribute ulit yung mga role players namin," said Ricafort.

(Happy with the win, happy that our role players contributed again.)