PLDT will now have plenty of offensive talent with Savannah Davison (No. 6) and Jules Samonte (No. 4) welcoming Kim Dy (No. 13) into the fold. —PVL IMAGES
PLDT coach Rald Ricafort has a problem. And that’s the one he loves.
The arrival of three vital cogs to support the High Speed Hitters in the new Premier Volleyball League season has not only given him the opportunity to replace his injured stars, but has also given the young coach a glut of talents at his disposal. .
In the sole passer position, Ricafort will have veteran Rhea Dimaculangan and new acquisition Kim Fajardo sharing playing time.
“In the case of Rhea, she has been absent in our last two games due to injury and it is a good problem to have her and Fajardo with us. We just have to maintain Kim’s health because she was also on break from F2 due to injuries,” Ricafort told the Inquirer by phone on Tuesday.
Besides Fajardo, forward Kim Kianna Dy and middle blocker Majoy Baron also come in to provide coach Ricafort with exactly what he needs to remain a contender in the upcoming All-Filipino Conference.
Perfect fit
Fajardo, Dy and Baron were picked up from the disbanded F2 Logistics club.
“Swak na swak naman (key additions fit perfectly)… and knowing they come from F2, you know they will fight,” Ricafort said.
Injuries hit the PLDT late in the last Pan-Philippine Conference, with Erika Santos and Dimaculangan among those affected. Star middle blocker Mika Reyes, meanwhile, continues to recover from a recurring shoulder injury.
The addition of Dy gives the High Speed Hitters plenty of offensive options, with Filipino-Canadian star Savannah Davison and Jules Samonte still around to battle it out for minutes.
“I lost some of my players, those who are coming are integrating perfectly… Kianna’s arrival is perfect, even if Jules is still there but our right side will be much stronger,” added Ricafort.
Missed semi-finals
“For Majoy, Mika will be out for a while so definitely, if not better, she (Baron) will take Mika’s place perfectly,” he added as PLDT ramps up its training ahead of the upcoming season.
The High Speed Hitters narrowly missed the semifinals of the last conference with a 7-4 win-loss score and the former F2 cogs, who took their talents to PLDT after the Cargo Movers decided to leave the professional league last month, will strive to achieve a much better finish.
“With Sav and the (former) F2 players, their help will not be 100% technical. I think it’s their experience of winning, of being a champion, so you gave Sav more competitive teammates,” he said.
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“(T)he additions who will join (Davison) are experienced in handling difficult situations.” INQ
