AV synchronous, dual chamber pacing systems are disclosed having improved sensing of ectopic ventricular depolarizations or PVCs coincidentally occurring at or shortly following delivery of an A-PACE pulse. A first ventricular sense amplifier that is blanked during and following delivery of an A-PACE pulse is coupled to active and indifferent ventricular pace/sense electrodes defining a ventricular sense vector for sensing natural ventricular depolarizations and declaring a V-EVENT. A far field PVC sense amplifier coupled to a far field PVC sense electrode pair defining a PVC sense vector detects such PVCs while the ventricular sense amplifier is blanked. A PVC declared during the ventricular blanking period by the far field PVC sense amplifier is employed to deliver a VSP pulse upon time-out of a VSP delay, if the VSP function is provided and programmed ON, and/or to halt time-out of an AV delay.