PLDT High Speed Hitters veteran Kim Kianna Dy said the team will use its bronze-medal finish in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference as motivation as it shifts its attention to the upcoming All-Filipino Conference.
The High Speed Hitters ended their title defense with a podium finish after beating Creamline in the battle for third place, but Dy admitted that the team had hoped for a better result.
“I guess this wasn’t the result we wanted but still happy that we ended this conference with the win,” Dy said in an interview with Abante Sports’ Jonas Lavarias.
PLDT will now have a chance to regroup and address the areas that need improvement before the next conference. Dy said the team is already looking forward to returning to training and working on those aspects.
“We still have a lot to work on for the next conference, so that’s what we’re going to work on pagbalik sa training,” she said.
The victory over Creamline provided a positive ending to a demanding Invitational campaign. The two teams had faced each other just two days earlier, with PLDT also winning in the elimination round to end the Cool Smashers’ Finals hopes.
Dy said the grueling schedule, which saw the teams play almost every day, made the closing stretch particularly challenging.
“Creamline will always be Creamline. We know they’re one of the top teams and they really gave their all also,” she said.
“I guess, kasama rin iyung pagod ng conference na ito. You know, almost everyday may games. So, it was really who wanted it more and breaks of the game lang talaga,” Dy added.
For PLDT, the bronze medal gives the team another podium finish after also placing third in the All-Filipino Conference earlier this year. However, Dy said the High Speed Hitters are determined to improve when they return to action.
“It’s not the results we wanted but we’re still happy with the win. We’ll take that, and we’ll work more coming into the next conference,” she said. (Adrian Co)
