FOR all the expectations thrust upon it, PLDT learned the hard way that nothing comes easy in the PVL.
Touted as not just a finals shoo-in, but even a title favorite entering the 2026 All-Filipino Conference, the High Speed Hitters only strengthened that narrative early, racing to the No. 1 seed with eight wins in nine games and even securing the first outright semifinals berth.
At that point, it looked like a matter of when - and not if - they would prove preseason predictions correct.
Alas, momentum proved fleeting.
Back-to-back losses in the single round-robin semifinals, a five-set defeat to Creamline and a four-set stumble against Farm Fresh, abruptly knocked PLDT out of the title picture.
What followed was another grind, with the High Speed Hitters having to survive consecutive five-set battles against the same Foxies squad just to secure a place on the podium.
READ: PLDT seizes bronze medal after spoiling Farm Fresh comeback
Yet for head coach Rald Ricafort, the campaign was far from a disappointment.
Because from his perspective, PLDT was never operating with the assumption that it was the team to beat.
“Hindi kasi siya automatic eh. Hindi ko alam bakit nagkakaroon ng ganu’ng thinking na porke't maganda ‘yung naabot namin the past conferences, parang automatic na sure na sure na kami sa finals,” he explained.
“Mahirap siya, pero kung ito ‘yung ibibigay muna sa’min this time, sobrang thankful namin dito sa best finish (sa All-Filipino). Nakailang conferences na kami na kinakapos du’n sa battle for third.”
Better and better
For Ricafort, this is a timely reminder that actually echoes what Ramil de Jesus, the winningest coach in the collegiate ranks of decades-long dynasty La Salle, has long preached.
There is no room for complacency in a constantly evolving landscape.
“Nabanggit din ni coach Ramil sa UAAP na ‘yung pag-evolve, compared sa UAAP na yearly lang sila nagkikita-kita, dito sa PVL, ‘yung pag-e-evolve, kahit sa mismong conference, may nagbabago, may nagle-level up, may kailangang habuling skills na kapag hindi mo nahabol, maiiwan at maiiwan ka talaga,” he said.
“Ginusto lang din ng players na trabahuin at i-level up pa ‘yung sa’min kahit sa dulo at kahit mas mahirap.”
Despite already owning two titles, the High Speed Hitters remain very much a work in progress, especially in terms of sustaining success.
“Kinikilala pa rin namin ‘yung core namin na two years pa lang nagkasama, so marami pang kailangang makilala sa isa’t-isa,” Ricafort said.
“Happy ako na kahit papano, may natutunan kami this conference, hindi lang sa games, pero du’n din sa outside na tingin naming mas nagiging factor talaga para mas maging solid kami.”
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