PLDT weathered an uninspired start in its final prelims outing before rediscovering its dominant form to dispatch ZUS Coffee, 24-26, 25-17, 25-17, 25-14, at the Araneta Coliseum Thursday night and secure a 5-0 sweep heading into the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational.

Coming off an emotional and historic championship run in the PVL On Tour, the High Speed Hitters appeared uncharacteristically out of sync in the early going, missing the trademark net aggressiveness that had fueled their ascent to On Tour glory.

That early lapse opened the door for the undermanned yet spirited Thunderbelles, who took full advantage of the sluggish start to wrest control and steal the opening frame.

However, once they shook off the cobwebs, the High Speed Hitters’ trademark rhythm, net defense and sheer depth proved too much to handle.

While the win extended PLDT’s scorching run to 12 straight victories, including eight from its On Tour title sweep, it was a performance that hinted at something deeper than early-match jitters.

PLDT also became the second team to sweep a preliminary round multiple times.

“I think the format of this whole tournament challenges every team, how to play back-to-back,” said Savi Davison, reflecting on the demanding schedule that required teams to play on back-to-back days. “We got a bit of a wake-up call early on but we came back and we were able to make it three sets straight.”

Davison poured in 26 points to annex another Best Player of the Game award in a performance she spiked with 12 excellent digs and seven receptions. Kim Dy also continued her consistent run with 13 markers while Dell Palomata and Mika Reyes matched 11-point outputs and rookie Alleiah Malaluan added nine points for the peerless High Speed Hitters, who outgunned the Thunderbelles in attacks, 69-47.

“Siguro, yung reminders lang na ‘wag masyadong malayo ang tingin muna, yung respeto sa kalaban, yung complacency kailangan talagang tanggalin, saka kailangan talaga i-push kasi sagad na sagad na talaga yung mga tao,” said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort, referring on their struggles in the first set.

“Happy kami na, lalo with Dell (Palomata), na napakawalan. So may extra boost ng energy para sa amin,” he added, acknowledging the impact of Palomata’s performance in giving the team a much-needed lift.

Rookie Wielyn Estoque provided a bright spot for ZUS Coffee, posting a career-best 15 points to lead her squad. Dolly Verzosa added 10, while Kate Santiago scored nine points – all in a spirited first-set showing.

Despite their efforts, the Thunderbelles suffered their fourth consecutive defeat.

After dropping the opening set to a team missing its starters, some observers couldn’t help but notice the High Speed Hitters’ unusually restrained approach – a stark contrast to their trademark pace and aggression that typically define their dominance.

PLDT, for all its offensive and defensive arsenal, seemed to be playing with one eye on Sunday’s finals. Key players appeared to be paced deliberately – perhaps to avoid unnecessary wear and tear or, more strategically, to prevent giving too much away to whoever emerges as their opponent between Kobe Shinwa and Chery Tiggo.

That said, their superiority was undeniable. The High Speed Hitters’ height advantage came into play midway through Set 2, erasing a 4-8 deficit with a blistering 16-6 run anchored by Davison, who delivered eight of her 13 points during that stretch.

The Thunderbelles simply had no answer as PLDT switched into cruise control, with libero Kath Arado even joining the scoring with a rare but clever push to Zone 1.

Palomata also made her presence felt with key blocks and quick hits, while Malaluan sealed the second set with a smart off-the-block kill.

Though ZUS Coffee mounted a brief resistance in the third frame – clawing back to threaten at 10-11 – PLDT responded with poise, riding on the experience and sheer power of Davison and Palomata to re-establish control.

Despite moments of inconsistency, particularly in tempo and transition plays, PLDT’s tactical restraint was evident. The High Speed Hitters were measured in their attacks, and more deliberate in their coverage and rotations, possibly in an effort to mask key play patterns and preserve the physical condition of their mainstays.

ZUS Coffee, battling without several of its regulars, showed remarkable grit but eventually crumbled under the weight of PLDT’s depth. The Thunderbelles suffered their fourth straight defeat, but not without giving the league leaders something to work on ahead of the gold medal match.

Set 4 proved more straightforward for the High Speed Hitters, even if they never truly flipped the switch to full power. The air of caution persisted, with key offensive patterns seemingly held back. Still, PLDT raced to a 12-5 lead and rolled into the one-hour, 36-minute victory as the Thunderbelles couldn’t capitalize, committing unforced errors down the stretch.