Kobe Shinwa stormed into the PVL Invitational Final with a whirlwind of speed and precision, leaving PLDT scrambling for answers right after the opening set.
The young Japanese squad played at a blistering pace — fast, sharp, and tireless. Every swing carried weight, every dig came with full effort, and every rally was executed with surgical precision. Their energy was relentless, and for a moment, the High Speed Hitters seemed caught in the eye of the storm.
But in the middle of that chaos, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort reminded his team of one thing — to stay in the present.
“Mahirap na mahirap lalo na nung first set,” said Ricafort.
“Actually hindi na ‘yon sa motivation eh, sa pag-remind na lang sa kanila na maging present kahit na sobrang bilis ng nangyayari.”
Shaken by the opening set, the High Speed Hitters regrouped and struck back. They calmed their nerves, adjusted their game, and leaned on the qualities they had built through past campaigns.
(C) PVL Images
With that, the once-disoriented squad found composure in the whirlwind, slowly regaining control of the match.
“Importante din talaga na na-recover namin ‘yung first set na litong lito kami nung simula, dahil sobrang pinaghandaan nga talaga nila,” Ricafort said.
“Going to this game naman talaga, ‘yung focus at patience talaga namin ‘yung matetest, ayun lang siguro. Sumabay talaga ‘yung good breaks, lalo na ‘yung nahabol namin ‘yung second set. So ‘yun na ‘yung nag third and fourth, anybody’s game na ulit.”
That shift proved to be the turning point. PLDT steadied itself and clawed its way back, eventually outlasting Kobe Shinwa in four sets, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, to clinch the PVL Invitational Conference crown.
The triumph also marked PLDT’s second consecutive championship, completing a dominant 13-0 sweep across the Invitational and the On Tour.
For Ricafort, the back-to-back titles were a testament to his players’ growth — from a team that once faltered under pressure to one that now has the poise to withstand storms and finish strong.
“Sobrang proud ako na ginapang ng players. Happy ako na from On Tour na wala sila Alas players, nabigyan ko rin sila ng championship ngayon.”
