Majoy Baron of PLDT Excessive Velocity Hitters during a PVL All-Filipino Conference match against Akari Chargers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines – PLDT held no grudge against beefed-up semifinal tormentor Akari and remained focused on the task at hand in the resumption of its 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
In their first matchup since their five-unit matchup in the import-laden tournament marred by a controversial failed challenge for a foul on the net, the Excessive Velocity Hitters came out strong with a 25-22, 25-16, 25- 15. Akari on Saturday at Philsports Enviornment.
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CALENDAR: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025
Five months after losing to Akari in the knockout semi-finals where PLDT was one point away from the final if not for the hotly contested call-up, coach Rald Ricafort made sure his focus was to start by winning his first game of 2025.
“The advice they gave us was to ask beforehand how the players were feeling, if they had additional motivation or not,” he said.
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“We reminded them that no matter how much extra motivation they had, they had to make sure they didn’t lose focus. That’s where the improvement really came from, focusing on the task at hand, which was our game.”
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Ricafort and PLDT were more than eager to get back on track, especially losing two consecutive games to end the year 2024 and before the PVL took a break.
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Rald Ricafort, PLDT high-speed hitter coach. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
“Not everything was negative, but we saw it as something that helped us improve more due to the level that was required of us. And that is also what Akari brings, always improving in each conference, and it is contagious because as the teams raise their level, you have to keep up,” said the coach.
Majoy Barón, who was part of that heartbreaking loss, said that he played without excess baggage and assured that they had already left everything in the past.
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READ: All-Filipino PVL Resumption: What Happened and What to Expect
“I don’t dwell on what happened last year because now the composition of the team is different. We’re just focused on the task and we treat every game the same, keeping our emotions level because we really want to stay focused and do our job on the court,” said Baron, who scored 11 points, all on kills from his 18 attack attempts. .
The star centre-back enjoyed the moment with Savi Davison providing the firepower to win the game in just one hour and 35 minutes.
“Personally, I enjoyed it because I was excited because it was the first game of the year. The break was long, so we were more excited and better prepared,” Baron said. “We will focus only on what is happening at the moment. “There shouldn’t be any baggage that doesn’t help with what’s going on in the present.”
Ricafort and the Excessive Velocity Hitters, who improved to a 4-2 record to start the year, look to build on the victory as contending teams await them in their final five knockout round games.
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“At least we can prepare with good momentum. That is the challenge of the conference, managing our schedule, rest and preparation for the next game. “We have enough days, we just have to move forward regardless of the result so we can focus immediately on the next game,” he said.
