PLDT rookie Kiesha Bedonia delivered her best performance in her professional career to date, leading the High Speed Hitters past Strong Group Athletics in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
As PLDT braces for a tough home stretch in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries, High Speed Hitters head coach Rald Ricafort is well aware of the importance of stamina and conditioning moving forward.
For this reason, Ricafort provided his starters limited playing time Tuesday night, relying on the second unit to dispatch the win-hungry Strong Group Athletics in straight-set fashion.
“'Yun naman 'yung game plan all along so happy kami na na-activate lahat saka nag-perform nang maayos,” the PLDT tactician said.
One of the High Speed Hitters who rose to the occasion was Kiesha Bedonia.
Bedonia came off the bench in the opening frame and delivered the goods the rest of the way. She finished with a game-high 16 points, to go along with eight receptions, for her best pro performance to date.
For the rookie out of Far Eastern University, she simply wanted to seize the moment.
“Binibigyan po nila ako ng chance, so why not, ‘di ba? Ipakita ko na po kung sino ako, kung ano po talaga 'yung baon ko sa larong ito,” Bedonia said.
Ricafort expected no less from Bedonia, who already proved her worth in PLDT’s five-set victory over Choco Mucho several weeks ago.
“I mean, ginamit ko na siya nung Choco [Mucho], na may gano'ng malaking responsibility. So, hindi na siya actually fast track, pero alam na niya 'yung role niya na immediate bunot. So 'yun, okay naman na kahit papaano nagi-improve na rin,” Ricafort said of the young winger.
It also helps Bedonia that PLDT has a reliable set of veterans that are willing to guide her.
One of them is seasoned setter Rhea Dimaculangan, whose presence allowed the second unit to pull through when SGA put up a tough challenge.
“Kasi po parang naano po namin na-feel po namin parang like pressure po kasi nga po 'yung dikit-dikit pero pinag-ano po kami ni ate Rhea na 'wag lang po ma-pressure tapos enjoy lang po talaga 'yung laro namin ngayon,” Bedonia said.
As the High Speed Hitters secured a crucial sweep that elevated their standings to 7-1 (20 points), good for second place behind league-leading Choco Mucho Flying Titans (7-1 record with 21 points), Ricafort is pleased to see his bench mob step up.
“Ang natulong ng game na 'to is less 'yung load dun sa core na kahit papa'no parang nadagdag na 'to dun sa enough rest na kailangan nila para makapagsimula na kami nung hell week,” Ricafort said.
Bedonia and the rest of the High Speed Hitters now set their sights on fellow contenders Chery Tiggo Crossovers on April 16, Tuesday.