HO Chi Minh came to the Philippines knowing it would be in for a lesson.
Its first overseas trip was designed as an opportunity to expose a young but deeply varied roster to a higher level of competition, with veterans brought in to guide the next generation and younger players tasked with bringing energy and fearlessness.
READ: Ho Chi Minh winless no more after upset of defending champ PLDT
Then, somewhere between getting ran over in its first two games and adjusting to the enormity of the Smart Araneta Coliseum, those lessons started to stick.
The result was one of the biggest PVL upsets in recent memory as Ho Chi Minh stunned defending 2026 PVL Invitational champion PLDT in four sets, 28-26, 19-25, 25-21, 25-16, on Thursday.
The Vietnamese club's roster spans a wide age range, from players with nearly a decade of experience to teenagers who came through its youth development system. And that was by design as the veterans were meant to steady the younger players, while the younger core brought a different level of dynamism.
But the adjustment was immediate and difficult, particularly for players suddenly thrust onto a stage as large as the Big Dome.
“A lot of the younger ladies were having a hard time adapting to the changes, playing in a big stadium, a lot of pressure,” team coordinator Tommy Le said.
“But the ladies have been able to step it up, take what they've learned in the last two days and apply and really challenge themselves to compete at the highest level here in the Philippines,."
Against PLDT, captain Dang Thi Kim Thanh made sure her teammates did not let the defending champions become bigger than the game itself.
“I encourage the team to play with a relaxed spirit, full of energy and determination,” said Dang, who finished with 19 points and 13 digs. Her remarks were delivered in Vietnamese and translated by Le.
The message was to embrace their underdog position rather than be burdened by it. Instead of worrying about who stood across the net, Ho Chi Minh focused on playing together and executing the things it had spent the season practicing.
“This whole experience was a learning and a challenge for them as players. The older ladies are here to give guidance to the younger players, and the players are here just to gain experience,” Le said.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity, and we want to take advantage of this opportunity to challenge and play against the best players in the Philippines.”
For a team that came to Manila looking for experience, Ho Chi Minh got something considerably more valuable.
It learned quickly, grew under pressure, and then beat the defending champions.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
