PLDT squeaked past Chery Tiggo with a hard-earned 25-21, 16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 15-12 win to claim the last spot in the semifinals in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Tuesday night, July 18, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

The High Speed Hitters finished with a 3-1 record in the Pool A standings to join defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers and Pool B contenders F2 Logistics Cargo Movers and Cignal HD Spikers in the next round action. 

The four local squads are set to face two visiting foreign clubs in the round-robin semifinals in Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh of Vietnam and Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan beginning Thursday, July 20 at the same venue. 

It was Rhea Dimaculangan’s playmaking that led the High Speed Hitters to a balanced scoring finish as Me-An Mendrez carried out a team-high 16 points on 13 attacks and three blocks. 

Dell Palomata, for her part, added 14 points while Mich Morente and Mae Ceballos had 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

PLDT zoomed to a 2-1 set lead before Chery Tiggo found another equalizer and dragged the match into a sudden death. 

Mylene Paat paced the Crossovers with a 29-point explosion built on 22 attacks, four blocks and three service aces which went for naught as they will be relegated to the classification match. 

Chery Tiggo finished with an even record of 2-2 in the standings of the mid-year conference.