PLDT captures historic PVL On Tour crown; Reyes earns Finals MVP

The PLDT High Speed Hitters etched their name in Premier Volleyball League (PVL) history after outlasting Chery Tiggo in a thrilling five-set, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8, to capture the 2025 PVL On Tour title on Sunday, August 17, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Guided by head coach Rald Ricafort, PLDT completed a flawless run throughout the tournament—sweeping the group stage with a 5-0 slate before dispatching ZUS Coffee and Creamline in the knockout rounds. 

The breakthrough marked the High Speed Hitters’ first-ever appearance and victory in a PVL championship stage.

At the heart of PLDT’s historic feat was Mika Reyes, who delivered a career-defining performance in the gold medal match. The 6-foot middle blocker unleashed 20 points built on 13 kills and seven blocks, sealing her first Finals MVP award and powering her squad to its long-awaited crown.

But Reyes was not the only start of the night.

Former PLDT standout Erika Santos, now with Cignal, made her own mark by winning the PVL On Tour Most Valuable Player Award. 

The 25-year-old opposite spiker showcased her full potential with the HD Spikers, highlighted by a 30-point explosion against ZUS Coffee and consistent scoring throughout the tournament. 

Santos emerged as co-top scorer of the preliminaries with 87 points, while also topping the spiking efficiency charts at 37.50 percent.

The awarding ceremony also celebrated the league’s top performers across positions:

Best Outside Spikers: Myla Pablo (Petro Gazz) and Alyssa Valdez (Creamline). Pablo shared top-scoring honors with Santos, while Valdez extended her record with a ninth citation in the category.

Best Opposite Spiker: Trisha Tubu (Farm Fresh), claiming her third award after finishing among the tournament’s top scorers.

Best Middle Blockers: Majoy Baron (PLDT) and Jeanette Panaga (Creamline). Baron led the league in blocking at 0.81 per set, while Panaga continued her dominance with her seventh award.

Best Setter: Kyle Negrito (Creamline), who averaged 6.74 excellent sets per frame en route to her fourth recognition.

Best Libero: Kath Arado (PLDT), who topped both digging (5.38 per set) and receiving (63.16%) to clinch her fourth citation.

The High Speed Hitters’ championship run not only gave the franchise its long-awaited breakthrough but also highlighted the emergence of new stars and the consistency of seasoned veterans, proving once again why the PVL remains the premier stage for Philippine volleyball excellence.