The PLDT High Speed Hitters can always count on the ever-reliable Rhea Dimaculangan in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Coming off the bench would never dampen Rhea Dimaculangan's resolve to deliver for the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Serving as a reliever for Kim Fajardo, Dimaculangan is always ready whenever her number gets called.
This proved evident on Saturday, as PLDT's long-time playmaker ably orchestrated the offense for the High Speed Hitters in their straight-set drubbing of the Capital1 Solar Spikers.
"'Yung mindset ko lang ay laging maging ready, in case na kailangan ni Kim ng tulong or kung sino 'yung kailangan ni Coach (Rald Ricafort) para mailabas laro ng PLDT," Dimaculangan told One Sports.
Dimaculangan turned in her best performance in the season-opening conference thus far. She entered midway through the second set and went on to finish the bout with a game-high 12 excellent sets, on top of two points.
The 5-foot-7 stalwart helped the High Speed Hitters dominate the Solar Spikers with a lopsided 47-27 spiking differential.
Following such a steady performance, Dimaculangan revealed she's still dealing with a nagging right ring finger injury she incurred in the previous season.
"Hindi pa ako masyado ganun ka-(confident) mag block. Pero kung may chance tina-try pa rin. Tsaka ang importante naman is kahit papaano nakakabalik na rin na maglaro," Dimaculangan bared.
She added: "After every game, medyo manas siya palagi pero okay naman. So far nakaka-adapt na siya ng normal na galaw niya."
As she continues to regain her form, Dimaculangan is glad to share the playmaking load with Fajardo.
"Mas nakikita ko rin naman na si Kim, eh nandoon na rin siya. Actually mas naakatuwa nga na hindi mahirap kasama si Kim sa loob ng court. Sumusuporta lang kami sa isa't isa," she said.
With two talented setters orchestrating the offense, PLDT now holds a 3-1 record, good for solo momentary fourth place in the standings.
This is a good sign for the High Speed Hitters, who aim to land a spot at the podium. But Dimaculangan said that she and the rest of the team are not looking far ahead.
"Siguro 'yung mindset din namin is one game at a time. 'Yun lang muna nil-look forward namin every game na kailangan maka-survive kami hanggang sa maabot namin 'yung goal nga namin," the UST product said.
"Lahat kami competitive at tsaka nagtutulong talaga kami ngayon para maabot 'yung goal namin. Hopefully makuha namin this conference", she added.
PLDT continues its title-contention bid on March 19, Tuesday when it faces the unbeaten Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
The match will be aired on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.