PLDT’s breakthrough no longer looks like a one-off. Just two weeks removed from finally breaking its long championship drought, the High Speed Hitters doubled down with another crown — this time the PVL Invitational — by rallying past Japan’s Kobe Shinwa University, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The victory sealed PLDT’s transformation into the league’s newest powerhouse. In the span of one month, the High Speed Hitters lifted two straight trophies: the PVL On Tour, where they went 8-0 capped by a Finals win over Chery Tiggo, and now the Invitational, where they swept all five matches, including this gritty finale against Japan’s top collegiate program.

Battling Back After a Shaky Start

Kobe Shinwa showed its pedigree in the opening frame, dictating tempo with rapid-fire sets and a steady rhythm that disrupted PLDT’s block-first approach. Behind the precise hands of setter Sakura Furuta and the attacking duo of Nagisa Komatsuda and Kokoro Yasuma, the visitors silenced the crowd with a 1–0 set lead.

But once again, PLDT leaned on patience and poise. Import reinforcement Savi Davison spearheaded the comeback with 20 points, while also steadying the floor with nine digs and 18 receptions. “We came into this game knowing that if they gave us the opportunity we had to take it,” said Davison. “This was one of the hardest matches we’ve had all year.”

Kim Dy delivered 17 points and the match-sealing block on Komatsuda, while rookie Alleiah Malaluan rose to the occasion with 15. Veteran Mika Reyes chipped in 12, punctuating her night with well-timed power tips. Libero Kath Arado, the defensive anchor, was again everywhere — finishing with 22 digs that blunted Kobe Shinwa’s high-octane offense.

On the other end, Komatsuda poured in a game-high 22 points for Kobe Shinwa, supported by Yasuma’s 14 and Reira Miyazaki’s 11. Yet when the pressure tightened, the youthful Japanese side unraveled. They gave away 30 free points off errors, almost double PLDT’s 18. Despite outspiking PLDT 71–58, they never scored a single block, while the High Speed Hitters tallied 11.

The turning point came late in Set 2, a 31-29 thriller that featured long rallies and clutch saves. A particularly breathtaking 60-second exchange had the entire arena on its feet, capped by a Dy block that swung momentum. From there, PLDT’s confidence only grew. By Set 4, the Filipinas controlled the net, with Dell Palomata asserting herself in the middle and Davison and Malaluan firing from the wings.

When Dy and Reyes closed the door with a decisive double block, the Smart Araneta crowd erupted. Another celebration. Another championship. Another statement that PLDT is here to stay.