In sport, it is rarely about how you start. It is about how you finish.
EST Cola proved that adage in emphatic fashion Sunday, overcoming an opening-day setback to sweep its next four matches and become the first team to secure a Finals berth in the hotly contested PVL Invitational at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But the Thais had to summon everything they had to fend off a resilient Ho Chi Minh side, 25-19, 26-24, 26-24, relying on grit, composure and nerves of steel to prevail in character-testing finishes in the final two sets and fulfill their dream of a championship stint.
Despite being swept in three sets, the Vietnamese put up a tough fight, particularly in the last two frames, where they battled back from big deficits to turn the finish into a nip-and-tuck affair.
Ho Chi Minh forced three deadlocks in Set 2, the last coming at 24 on Thi Kim Thanh Dang’s sharp crosscourt hit that extended the frame. But the Thais never wavered, answering with a quick attack before Nirarach Srikuta roofed Dang’s attempt to tie the set, giving EST Cola a commanding 2-0 lead.
Still, Ho Chi Minh kept Set 3 close, forcing an 8-all count at the first technical timeout and staying within striking distance throughout. The Vietnamese then battled back from a 19-22 deficit to force another extension, with Thi Nhung Dao scoring on a quick attack and Papatchaya Phontham committing an attack error.
But the Thais prevailed in a test of nerve and character, scoring the final two points behind Nattharika Wasan’s quick hit and Srikuta’s power blast. The Vietnamese struggled with their first-ball reception, allowing the Thais an easy pickup and setting up Srikuta for the clincher.
EST Cola’s 4-1 record was enough to clinch the first Finals seat, giving the Thais the luxury of watching the remaining contenders fight over the other spot – and waiting for the team that will challenge them for the championship.
And there could hardly be a more intriguing possibility than a rematch with Creamline.
The Cool Smashers, who had swept their first three assignments before falling to the Thais in four sets last Friday, were still battling the High Speed Hitters at presstime in a match that could determine the complexion of the title race.
PLDT, meanwhile, had also revived its Finals hopes by beating Farm Fresh Friday and remained firmly in contention for another shot at the crown.
A Creamline victory would set up an intriguing one-game championship showdown between the Thais and the Cool Smashers on Tuesday – a rematch made all the more compelling by the visiting squad’s stunning upset of Creamline just days earlier.
A PLDT victory, however, would throw the race into a three-way tie for second place among PLDT, Nxled and Creamline, all at 3-2, leaving EST Cola’s Finals opponent to be determined through the FIVB tiebreak rules.
Either way, the equation underscores just how dramatically the tournament has shifted.
EST Cola came into the Invitational as a promising guest team, suffered an early blow against PLDT and was quickly overshadowed by the league’s established powers.
EST Cola controlled the 90-minute match through strong frontline play, outscoring Ho Chi Minh in attacks (52-34) and blocks (10-4). This net dominance helped them overcome 22 unforced errors that gave Vietnam free points, compared to just seven error points conceded by the Vietnamese.
Phontham again spearheaded EST Cola with 21 points, including 19 off attacks, while Nannaphat Moonjakham and Srikuta provided strong support with 18 and 12 points, respectively, as the explosive trio delivered another consistent performance to power the visiting squad into championship match.
Skipper Thi Kim Thanh Dang led Ho Chi Minh with 14 points, while Thi Nhu Phuong Nguyen chipped in nine. However, the pair lacked sufficient backup as young standout Thi Bich Diep Dao was held to seven points after scoring 13 against Nxled on Friday, and Thi My Xuyen Le managed just six.
But what made the Thais’ breakthrough even more remarkable was the cast that pulled it off: a fearless young bunch that forms the bulk of Thailand’s Under-21 squad, yet played with the poise and conviction of seasoned campaigners while taking down three of the league’s foremost teams, including its winningest franchise.
EST Cola opened the tournament with a four-set loss to defending champion PLDT, a result that appeared to leave the young Thais on the fringes of the championship picture.
They quickly changed that narrative.
EST Cola bounced back with a straight-set demolition of Farm Fresh, although the emphatic victory still did little to alter the prevailing championship conversation, which at that point revolved largely around a potential Creamline-PLDT title showdown.
Then came the turning point.
The Thais survived the Nxled Chameleons in a grueling five-set battle that showcased their composure under pressure, coupled with a blend of speed, attacking flair and youthful fearlessness. As the other contenders stumbled in crucial matches, EST Cola suddenly found itself no longer merely in the mix – but squarely in the Finals race.
EST Cola finished the job Sunday with another shutout, this time against fellow guest team Ho Chi Minh, completing a remarkable four-match winning streak.
Four victories later, the young Thais are sitting atop the race for the championship.
And they did it the hard way – by overcoming the teams that were supposed to be standing in their way.
