PLDT outlasts Kobe Shinwa to claim Invitational title

MANILA, September 1 ------ PLDT lived up to the billing of being the "team to beat" in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational. And no, they weren't beaten at all in two straight tournaments. The PVL on Tour champs claimed back-to-back titles after rampaging past Kobe Shinwa University, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, in the one-game final at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The High-Speed Hitters, who had an edge as they had a two-day break — in contrast, Kobe Shinwa only had one — made sure to pounce on that opportunity as they took down the visitors, although in a hard-earned four-set triumph. PLDT struggled early but put up a fight late in Set 1 after climbing back within two points, 23-21, after Kobe Shinwa led by five, 23-18. Nagisa Komatsuda found the hit, as Sakura Furuta nailed an ace to quell that PLDT comeback, 25-21.

The High Speed Hitters again trailed in Set 2, 18-21, but eventually found the answers as they unleashed a 4-0 run, built on Savi Davison's hit into the block, a Kim Kianna Dy ace, another Davison attack, and Kim Fajardo winning a joust on the net to take the lead at 22-21.

Both Kobe Shinwa and PLDT proved to be resilient as the frame went way beyond the limit. After the exchange in points, it went to a nail-biting 29-all count. That was when Davison again found the push, and Kokoro Yasuma's attack went wide to put PLDT on the board, 1-1. Kobe Shinwa yet again led the third set at 21-19, but could not get the closeout, as the High-Speed Hitters uncorked a 6-1 run capped by Davison's hit and Alleiah Malaluan's kill block for a 2-1 lead.

PLDT then dominated the final frame, rallying away with a 9-2 run from the 12-11 count to extinguish the fire in the visitors for the title. Kobe Shinwa still saved two match points after Mika Reyes put PLDT to a 24-16 cushion with her quick attack, but a kill block on their end finally wrapped up the match. It was an impressive feat for the Rald Ricafort-coached squad, which took another PVL title exactly two weeks since its breakthrough On Tour exploits. For their part, it was still quite a run for the Japanese side, upsetting well-established teams such as Creamline, Cignal, and Chery Tiggo, as well as the youthful Zus Coffee, while losing to only one PVL team.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com