RALD Ricafort’s patience with PLDT finally paid off in a breakthrough 2025-26 PVL season.
After steering the High Speed Hitters to championships in the first two tournaments of the season, Ricafort will be recognized as Coach of the Year in the 2nd Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on May 30 at Novotel Manila Araneta City.
PLDT swept the inaugural PVL on Tour to secure the franchise’s first professional title before extending its unbeaten streak into the Invitational Conference for a 15-game run.
Ricafort earned 11 total points from 7.8 media votes and 3.2 team votes to beat former Cignal mentor Shaq Delos Santos and Creamline’s Sherwin Meneses for the annual award.
The High Speed Hitters later placed fourth in the Reinforced Conference before clinching the franchise’s first-ever bronze medal in the All-Filipino Conference.
Creamline, meanwhile, continued its reign atop the league after capturing its 11th PVL championship.
The Cool Smashers claimed their second straight Team of the Year award in the annual rites, also supported by Immuni+ and Rebisco.
Creamline tallied 10.4 total points, built on 6.0 media votes and 4.4 team votes, to edge PLDT and Cignal.
After an uncharacteristic slump earlier in the season, the Cool Smashers regained form in the All-Filipino Conference, where they survived multiple do-or-die games before defeating Cignal in the finals.
Criss Cross is top men's team
In Spikers’ Turf, Criss Cross emerged as the league’s new dominant force after winning back-to-back championships.
The King Crunchers captured their breakthrough title in the 2025 Invitational Conference after beating Japan’s Kindai University in five sets before repeating in the 2026 Open Conference against the Savouge Spin Doctors behind five-time Conference MVP Jude Garcia.
Criss Cross was unanimously voted as Spikers’ Turf Team of the Year by the media covering the Sports Vision-organized men’s club league.
Head coach Tai Bundit also earned Spikers’ Turf Coach of the Year honors after finally leading the franchise to a championship breakthrough following years of runner-up finishes.
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