The Petro Gazz Angels and PLDT High Speed Hitters share the spotlight in the PVL, each delivering two championship runs in 2025.
After a year dominated by one team, the PVL took a different turn in 2025.
Instead of a single powerhouse defining the season, the year unfolded as a shared rise, with the Petro Gazz Angels and the PLDT High Speed Hitters setting the pace across multiple conferences.
Between them, the two teams claimed four championships, reshaping the competitive landscape and giving the league a much-needed reset heading into 2026.
PLDT finally breaks through
For PLDT, 2025 was about reward after patience.
The High Speed Hitters finally shed the label of “almost” by sweeping the PVL On Tour, completing a perfect run to secure the franchise’s first PVL championship.
The title validated years of steady roster building and incremental growth, as PLDT showed it could close out big moments rather than fall just short.
Savi Davison remained the focal point for the High Speed Hitters, but it was the full-strength roster that shone brightest, with Kianna Dy, Mika Reyes, and Kim Fajardo making major contributions after their respective injuries.
[ALSO READ: Mika Reyes celebrates Finals MVP plum, but says PLDT’s first PVL title matters most]
That confidence carried into the PVL Invitational, where PLDT again went unbeaten to complete back-to-back titles.
Team captain Kath Arado capped the run by becoming the first libero in league history to win a PVL Finals MVP, a fitting milestone for a team that leaned heavily on defense and cohesion.
[ALSO READ: Kim Fajardo, Kim Kianna Dy happy to see PLDT finally get over the hump with two PVL crowns]
Petro Gazz’s consistency across formats
While PLDT celebrated its breakthrough, Petro Gazz delivered the most complete season in the league.
The Angels opened the year by capturing the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference title, marking their first All-Filipino crown with a four-set win over the Creamline Cool Smashers in a winner-take-all Game 3.
Middle blocker MJ Phillips emerged as the Finals MVP after averaging 15.33 points in the series, anchoring a balanced attack that finally translated into a championship in the league’s all-local format.
[ALSO READ: Imports? Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips emphasize local roots as Petro Gazz nabs PVL All-Filipino title]
That victory proved to be a foundation rather than a peak.
Petro Gazz closed the season by reclaiming the PVL Reinforced Conference title, outlasting the up-and-coming ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the Finals.
Brooke Van Sickle delivered MVP-level performances, supported by the scoring of Phillips, Myla Pablo, and the return of import Lindsey Vander Weide.
[ALSO READ: Lindsey Vander Weide savors 2nd PVL Reinforced Conference title run with Petro Gazz]
Across both local and import-laced conferences, Petro Gazz showed an ability to adjust, manage setbacks, and peak at the right moments, finishing the year with two titles and four overall PVL championships to its name.
A season that rebalanced the league
Taken together, 2025 felt less like a changing of the guard and more like a broadening of contenders.
PLDT’s rise showed what continuity and patience can produce, while Petro Gazz’s sustained success highlighted the value of depth and adaptability across formats.
And for the rest of the league, the message was clear: the gap at the top has narrowed.
Two teams stood out, four championships were claimed, and the PVL is set to enter the next season with a more open—and competitive—picture than it had in years.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.