No bad blood for PLDT even as the High Speed Hitters drubbed the Akari Chargers in their first game back for 2025 in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PLDT middle blocker Majoy Baron clarified that there were no ill intentions from the High Speed Hitters as they faced the Akari Chargers for the first time since their controversial PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals match last year.
Beating Akari handily in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16, 25-15, in their first game back for the All-Filipino tiff on Saturday, Baron said it was simply wanting to begin the year on a high, especially as they came back from a lengthy break.
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“Me personally, nag-enjoy lang ako kasi na-excite din ako since first game of the year. Ang tagal din ng break so mas excited at well-prepared kami,” said Baron.
The High Speed Hitters were one point away from a breakthrough Finals berth in the Reinforced Conference when they called a challenge which was later on deemed “unsuccessful” — opening the door for Akari to come back, even as PLDT was already at match point.
The challenge, which involved an Akari player touching the net, was hotly contested both on the court and on social media, and for many fans, their Saturday clash was one to look forward to.
But for Baron, it wasn’t something that they carried on with them into the new year.
Rather, they treated the game as they would any other, making sure to keep their emotions in check considering all the talk that’s been going on from the outside.
"Hindi ko naman dinadala kung ano ‘yung nangyari last year kasi iba naman ‘yung composition ng team ngayon. We’re just focused nga du’n sa task and we treat each game na same lang,” said Baron.
“Level lang ‘yung emotions kasi gusto namin talaga na focused lang kami and magagawa namin ‘yung job namin sa loob ng court,” she added.
As for what she told her teammates, she said that they simply decided to focus on what was in front of them — not what happened before or what would happen in the future.
“Kung ano lang ‘yung nangyayari as of the moment, du’n lang kami magfo-focus. Wala dapat baggage na hindi makakatulong sa nangyayari sa present,” she said.
The High Speed Hitters improved to 4-2 for the conference, while Akari dropped to 3-4.
They return to action on Thursday, January 23, against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.