FOR the first time in eight years and 16 conferences, the PVL Finals will not feature either one of the league’s two winningest teams in Creamline and Petro Gazz.
It was Balipure and Pocari Sweat that took center stage in the last title series played without any traces of pink or red.
READ: Davison, PLDT oust Creamline to reach first-ever PVL Finals
While only a preseason tournament, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort acknowledged how his team and Chery Tiggo’s respective finals breakthroughs bode well in the league’s pursuit of competitive balance and parity.
"Maganda na naka-ikot [yung teams na nakakapasok sa finals],” Ricafort said.
“Ganun naman talaga. Dinanas din naman namin yung kami rin yung may mga kulang. Sadyang this conference lang talaga nakumpleto. Nakahabol si Savi [Davison], naka-perform ulit si Kianna [Dy], tsaka si Kim [Fajardo], nakabalik din.
“Siguro yung ganung match-up, talagang du’n mo lang makikita na yung level ng PVL, umaangat na rin talaga lahat. Itong mga nasa gitna tsaka nasa ilalim, unti-unting nagi-improve tsaka gumagaling naman. Yung nagiging result, nakakahabol na [yung ibang teams] kumbaga."
It took the High Speed Hitters beating Creamline for an unprecedented fourth-straight time that made their championship debut possible.
Entering the 2025 PVL on Tour semifinals, PLDT had an extra boost from the fact that no team has beaten them in six preseason matches with only Choco Mucho the lone team to take a set away from them.
Now that PLDT is starting to become a legitimate title-contending outfit, the team’s focus lies on staying pragmatic and strategic in its pursuit of a maiden title than to brim with confidence on what they’ve achieved.
"Confidence, hindi masyado. Basis lang talaga namin yung mapa-feel lang talaga sa kanila na kaya. Strategy-wise tsaka tao-wise, yung mga nakuha naming games kay Creamline before, iba't ibang tao at iba't ibang ikot din yung nangyari,” Ricafort said.
“Iba rin yung ngayon. Sadyang yun lang talaga, mas nangibabaw ito na [na-overcome namin] yung huling challenge kumbaga para makapag-finals. Yun na yung mas naging motivation namin."
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.
