The PLDT High Speed Hitters have long been tagged as a one-dimensional team—too dependent on Savi Davison’s scoring bursts to seriously contend for a championship. On Sunday night, that narrative was shattered.
Before more than 11,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena, PLDT showcased the kind of depth, resilience, and maturity that had been years in the making, defeating the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in five grueling sets, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8, to seize their first-ever PVL crown since entering the pro ranks in 2021.
If Davison was once thought to be the sole engine, the Finals proved otherwise. Finals MVP Mika Reyes unleashed the performance of her career—20 points highlighted by a championship-record seven blocks. Majoy Baron, equally imposing, contributed six rejections and 13 points, while Kianna Dy added 13 more, capping the night with a decisive block that sealed the title.
“We’ve always been labeled as Savi’s team,” Davison admitted after leading all scorers with 23 points. “But honestly, the talent in this group is incredible. Every day in practice I see how good they are, and I’m just glad people finally got to see it too. They make me better, and I hope I do the same for them.”
The win wasn’t just about numbers. It was about timing, resolve, and the refusal to crumble when momentum swung violently against them. After squandering a two-set cushion and teetering on collapse, PLDT steadied itself with Reyes and Baron fortifying the net, while libero Kath Arado and setter Kim Fajardo orchestrated stability in the back and front lines.
Head coach Rald Ricafort called the title a product of scars that never quite healed—quarterfinal exits, blown leads, and near-misses that painted the High Speed Hitters as a team that couldn’t close.
“This championship is proof of growth,” Ricafort said. “They learned how to finish. That’s what we’ve been chasing. All those heartbreaks, instead of breaking them, built them.”
For Reyes, the victory was more than a career night—it was vindication for a veteran often overshadowed by flashier teammates. For Davison, it was validation that she chose the right home.
“People always ask me why I picked PLDT,” Davison said. “The answer is simple: this is family. It’s either PLDT or nothing.”
The celebration, however, will be brief. PLDT immediately shifts gears to the PVL Invitational Conference, where they will face Chery Tiggo again on Thursday at Philsports Arena, before clashing with Japanese guest squads Kurashiki Ablaze and Kobe Shinwa University.
Ricafort’s message to his team remains clear: the title is a beginning, not an end.
“Every conference gets harder,” he said. “You can’t settle. The only way forward is to keep improving, keep showing up, and keep proving that this team is more than what people say.”