For all the points Papatchaya Phontham has put on the board, the Est Cola star insists that none of them belong to her alone.
The 20-year-old winger has been one of the biggest reasons behind the Thai club’s stunning run in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, but she would rather talk about the teammates behind every kill, every point, and every victory.
Est Cola bounced back from an opening-day loss to PLDT by stringing together four consecutive victories, punctuating its surge with a commanding straight-set win over fellow guest team Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.
The victory secured the Thai side a place in the PVL finals—a remarkable achievement in its first appearance in the league.
Yet even as the spotlight continues to follow Papatchaya, she refuses to see Est Cola’s breakthrough as a one-woman accomplishment.
“No matter what, a team is a team. I can’t play by myself. We have to play together as a team. Even if I can help a lot or only a little, if it were just me alone, then it wouldn’t be a team,” said Papatchaya, who has also represented Thailand’s senior national team.
Papatchaya’s numbers certainly make a compelling case for her importance.
She averaged 19.4 points per game during the elimination round, highlighted by a 27-point outburst against powerhouse Creamline. Her consistent offensive production made her one of Est Cola’s most dependable weapons as the Thai side climbed its way into the championship round.
But for Papatchaya, those statistics only tell part of the story.
Every attack, she pointed out, is made possible by the players who receive the ball and the setter who puts it in the right place.
“I feel good, but I have to give credit to everyone on the team. If we didn’t have our receivers and our setter, I wouldn’t have been able to attack and score. Everyone contributes to the team. It’s all about teamwork,” she added.
That mindset could prove just as important as her scoring touch now that the stakes are higher.
With Est Cola preparing for its first PVL finals appearance, Papatchaya is eager to raise her level once more and squeeze every possible contribution out of herself as the Thai side tries to cap its breakthrough campaign with a championship.
She will also lean on lessons gathered from a bigger stage.
A SEA V League champion with Thailand, Papatchaya has already experienced the demands of playing international volleyball with the senior national team. Now, she hopes to bring those experiences with her as Est Cola takes its biggest step yet in the Philippines.
“I have experience from playing with the senior national team, and I’ll try to use whatever experience I gained there to help the team, whether I can contribute a lot or a little.”
For Papatchaya, the formula remains simple.
The points may carry her name on the scoresheet, but the journey to the finals belongs to Est Cola as a whole.
