After years of challenges and struggles, the PLDT High Speed Hitters are finally on their way to be a legitimate force for PVL titles.
It’s been a long time coming, but the PLDT High Speed Hitters are finally on track to be one of the more dominant teams in the PVL after asserting their power in back-to-back title runs in the PVL on Tour and the PVL Invitational.
For veterans Kim Fajardo and Kim Kianna Dy, the two crowns were the result of years of hard work and sacrifice across the board.
Motivated by multiple close calls in recent tournaments, the High Speed Hitters were dead set on getting over the hump, and convincingly at that. Faced against guest team Kobe Shinwa in the Invitational finale, PLDT represented the league well.
“Super grateful, super thankful at ayun nga, super sulit lahat ng pinaghirapan, lahat ng heartbreaks and pain,” said Fajardo after the match.
“Alam niyo naman na the team has been through so much almosts and it just feels so good to finally get two championships,“ Dy added.
[RELATED: PLDT claims back-to-back PVL titles after besting Kobe Shinwa in Invitational Finals]
Adding color to PLDT’s latest championship is that it came on the anniversary of the controversial semifinals finish against the Akari Chargers in the PVL Reinforced Conference last year.
For Fajardo, the team has long grown for who they were when they fell in the close five-setter against Akari.
More than dwelling on the defeat, it was a source of lessons for the future tournaments, then finally, in 2025, PLDT were able to get their breakthroughs.
“For me, malayo na talaga, hindi na siya 'yung parang yung nafi-feel ko kasi sa court before, parang medyo, 'di naman tagilid, pero ano eh, parang nagbago siya ngayon na parang kahit anong mangyari hindi talaga susuko,” said Fajardo.
“Ganun na 'yung mindset ng lahat ngayon na siguro 'yun din 'yung nag-improve ng sobra sa team,” she added.
After grueling schedules in the past few months, PLDT can look forward to at least a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation before the PVL restarts with the Reinforced Conference later this year.
Getting important experience vs Kobe Shinwa, the High Speed Hitters are raring to get things going against bigger and better competition.
“We know that the Japan team is really a good team and it was a really hard fought match and 'yun, we just trusted each other and listened to the coaches,” said Dy.
“Basta, sabay-sabay kaming gagalaw hanggang sa dulo like we didn’t really think na hindi namin kaya kasi ito na 'yun eh, yung chance namin na manalo so we just grabbed it,” she added.