It felt like Savannah Davison had never been away.
During the 2025 PVL On Tour quarterfinals, the Fil-Canadian outside hitter made her presence felt immediately, spearheading PLDT’s emphatic straight-sets victory over Akari on Thursday night. In a do-or-die setting, Davison delivered a performance worthy of a highlight reel, catapulting the High Speed Hitters back into the semifinals with a clinical 25-21, 25-21, 25-19 win.
Davison was nothing short of unstoppable, erupting for 28 points on 25 kills out of 50 swings—exactly half of her attempts. She added two blocks, an ace, and 10 excellent receptions, showing that her game wasn’t just about firepower, but also about all-around impact.
Her seamless return, Davison shared, was built on the solid foundation of trust and camaraderie within the PLDT camp.
“I think overall, it’s just the environment that the girls are able to give me. I feel comfortable, I feel confident with them by my side so a huge thanks to them for supporting me. Whether I’m here, whether I’m elsewhere. Just the welcome back is you know, it feels good,” she said, smiling after the match.
That comfort was especially important given the circumstances. Davison had missed the tournament’s first three matches to spend time with family in Toronto—a much-needed breather after months of non-stop volleyball that included PLDT’s All-Filipino Conference grind and a taxing stint in the AVC Champions League.
When she rejoined the squad in Cebu toward the end of the group stage, her minutes were limited as head coach Rald Ricafort opted for a gradual reintroduction. But with the quarterfinals looming and Akari (playing under the ZUS Coffee banner) featuring offensive threats like Jovelyn Gonzaga, Ricafort knew it was time to unleash Davison in full.
“Yun naman din yung isa sa goals namin — na pagbalik niya, unti-unti muna ‘yung pag-integrate sa lineup. At the same time, ganun din kasi ‘yung respect namin sa ZUS, lalo na kina Jov na ilang games na nagpo-produce ng double digits,” Ricafort explained.
“Yun na ‘yung hinanap namin, ‘yung pangontra talaga — which is ‘yung kay Sav. Bonus na lang din na nasalo niya ‘yung load na usually pinaghahatian nila, either Kiesha, Jovy, Kianna, tapos ‘yung mga middles namin. Hopefully, maayos pa namin para ‘di pa marami ‘yung attempts ni Savi,” he added.
The gamble paid off. Davison not only neutralized Akari’s attack but also carried the offensive burden, showcasing the same fearless swing that made her one of PLDT’s most reliable scoring options.
The victory marked PLDT’s first semifinal appearance since the 2024 Reinforced Conference—a long-awaited breakthrough for a team that has often come close but fallen just short. For Davison, though, it’s about keeping things steady despite the high stakes ahead.
“Not much has changed,” she said. “The girls have made it more than a welcoming environment for me to come back to, and just the adjustments that I have to make are personal and not so much team-wide.”
