From repeated heartbreaks to a long-awaited breakthrough, the PLDT High Speed Hitters’ road to their first-ever PVL finals has been anything but easy.
Over the past two years, the High Speed Hitters have endured crushing playoff exits.
Each setback became a lesson, each roster move a step toward redemption, culminating in a near-perfect PVL on Tour run.
Here’s a look at PLDT’s tough road to reach its first-ever PVL Finals.
2023 All-Filipino Conference (4th place)
The High Speed Hitters had a strong 2023 All-Filipino campaign, finishing the preliminary round with a 6–2 record and reaching the semifinals
They pushed the Petro Gazz Angels to a do-or-die Game 3 in the semifinal series, but ultimately fell short, losing the deciding match in straight sets.
PLDT went on to place fourth overall after a two-game loss in the bronze medal series to the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
2023 Invitational & 2nd All-Filipino Conference (5th place)
PLDT would continue its strong campaigns in the Invitational and 2nd All-Filipino Conference before coming up short in the end, failing to make the semifinals.
Savi Davison’s arrival
However, its biggest move yet was enlisting Fil-Canadian outside hitter Savi Davison to bolster their scoring punch during the 2nd All-Filipino Conference.
Davison emerged as a focal point of the revamped High Speed Hitters lineup, showing flashes of brilliance while still adjusting to life in the Philippines.
In fact, she finished as the top scorer in the league after the preliminaries with 202 points.
Late 2023 to early 2024 offseason
In the offseason, F2 Logistics announced its disbandment, making several star players free agents.
PLDT seized the opportunity by signing Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron, and Kianna Dy, immediately catapulting them into championship contenders.
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Injuries, however, derailed them from competing as a whole up until the 2024 season.
2024 PVL Reinforced Conference (4th place)
With its upgraded roster, PLDT impressed early in the 2024 Reinforced Conference. The team posted a 6–2 record in the eliminations and advanced to the semifinal round as the No. 4 seed.
However, on August 31, 2024, the High Speed Hitters suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in the knockout semifinals against the top-seeded Akari Chargers, 25–22, 18–25, 22–25, 26–24, 15–17.
A controversial call marred the endgame, as PLDT’s mid-rally challenge for a net touch was denied at 14–13, allowing Akari to draw level instead.
The Chargers capitalized on the reprieve and closed out the match, denying the High Speed Hitters what would have been their first Finals appearance.
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2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference (5th place)
PLDT, fueled by the previous year’s disappointment, sought redemption with its new-look roster.
But just when it looked like the High Speed Hitters were ready to battle for the championship, the team’s title hopes were ultimately dashed in the best-of-three quarterfinals against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
In Game 1 of the best-of-three series, PLDT raced to a two-set lead but Choco Mucho pulled off a stunning reverse sweep, 25–20, 25–19, 15–25, 20–25, 16–18.
Five days later, the teams battled to another five-set classic in Game 2.
Davison erupted for 34 points to carry the High Speed Hitters, but it wasn’t enough as Sisi Rondina and the Flying Titans edged them, 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13, completing a 2-0 quarterfinal sweep and knocking them out of the conference.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Savi Davison reflects on PLDT’s heartbreaking exit, looks towards AVC Champions League]
2025 PVL on Tour (Finals-bound)
With the introduction of the PVL on Tour, the High Speed Hitters used the mini-conference as a chance to finally break through.
With a healthy lineup this time around, the Rald Ricafort-coached squad dominated the competition, sweeping the group stage with a pristine 5-0 record.
More importantly, the High Speed Hitters showed great consistency even without Davison at the start of the preseason tilt.
The High Speed Hitters made quick work of the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the quarterfinals before outlasting the Creamline Cool Smashers in a five-set semifinal thriller, 27–25, 22–25, 19–25, 25–16, 15–10.
The historic win clinched PLDT’s first-ever finals appearance in the PVL, a milestone nearly two years in the making.
[ALSO READ: Kath Arado proud of PLDT’s resilience, growth amid near-perfect PVL on Tour run]
The High Speed Hitters earned the right to face the Chery Tiggo Crossovers for the PVL on Tour championship.
The winner-take-all match is scheduled on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.