The wait was long, the journey painful, but on Sunday night inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena, PLDT finally touched glory. And for team captain Kath Arado, the moment was nothing short of destiny fulfilled.
For three years, the High Speed Hitters lived in the shadows of heartbreak—always knocking on the door, never quite breaking through. Since joining the franchise in 2022, Arado had seen her share of close calls, injuries, and endless what-ifs. But in front of more than 11,000 fans, those near misses were finally washed away with confetti and tears of joy.
PLDT rose from years of frustration to rule the Premier Volleyball League’s maiden preseason showcase, outlasting Chery Tiggo in a gripping one-game finale, 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8.
“Sobrang proud lang po talaga kasi since Day 1 talaga yung sacrifices ng team, lalo na yung coaches, lalo na yung tutok nila every game, every team na makakalaban namin. Talagang hands-on,” said Arado, her voice filled with pride as she clutched her first-ever championship.
Her words carried the weight of a team that had endured setback after setback. From 2021 up to early 2025, the High Speed Hitters, despite their star-studded roster, couldn’t even crack the podium. Eight times they finished fourth or fifth, always one step shy of the spotlight.
“Sobrang proud kasi yung journey namin from scratch talaga eh. From injuries, parang hindi natatapos yung injuries, so ngayon kami nakumpleto. So sobrang saya ko kasi finally champion and kumpleto kami,” Arado added, highlighting the completeness that had long eluded them.
Indeed, this championship was not just a trophy—it was a testament to patience, resilience, and healing.
For the first time in years, PLDT entered a tournament at full strength. Kianna Dy, once sidelined for nearly two years by a knee injury, made her triumphant return. Kim Fajardo, too, finally played pain-free, her veteran presence steadying the team. In the middle, the towering duo of Mika Reyes and Majoy Baron locked down the net, while Savi Davison brought renewed energy after a stint back home in Canada.
Role players Kiesha Bedonia and Jovie Prado sparked life off the bench, their grit providing balance to PLDT’s firepower.
At the core of it all was Arado—the High Speed Hitters’ anchor and defensive heart. Her consistency throughout the tournament earned her yet another Best Libero plum, her fifth overall, but this one carried a different weight.
“Sobrang grateful lang talaga ako na naging part ako ng team na to na sila coach yung kasama ko, mga teammates ko. Sabi ko nga sobrang proud na sila yung kasama ko na may suot nitong (championship) t-shirt na ito,” she said, holding back tears.
For Arado and PLDT, the victory was more than just a title. It was validation. It was the culmination of years of sacrifice, of refusing to quit when the odds seemed insurmountable.
“Sobrang grateful ako na nakuha namin na sila yung kasama ko,” the four-time Best Libero repeated, almost as if reminding herself that the moment was real.
