Mika Reyes goes on assault mode. —MARLO CUETO
Mika Reyes saved her profession recreation for the proper second—PLDT’s long-awaited coronation. For the 31-year-old center blocker, the title wasn’t only a trophy. It was the end result of wins, heartbreaks and sacrifices that spanned three years with the Excessive Velocity Hitters.
When Chery Tiggo erased PLDT’s two-set lead and threatened to interrupt their hearts as soon as extra, Reyes rose to the second. She delivered a Finals efficiency for the ages, setting a PVL championship recreation file with seven kill blocks, including 13 spikes for a career-high 20 factors. Her efforts anchored PLDT’s 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8 win in entrance of 11,055 followers on the Mall of Asia Area—and sealed their first skilled crown.
Reyes didn’t even hear her identify introduced as Finals MVP. She was nonetheless wrapped within the second, targeted on the one objective that had eluded PLDT for therefore lengthy.
“I believe what made this so fulfilling is all of the sacrifices we every made,” she instructed the Inquirer in Filipino. “We lastly received it—and all of us gave up a lot for this. That’s why I actually consider everybody deserves this: the gamers, coaches, utility employees and administration.”
Since becoming a member of PLDT in 2022 after Sta. Lucia disbanded, Reyes has been by way of the highs and lows of the group’s journey—from large wins to painful playoff exits. A type of low factors got here in final yr’s Bolstered Convention, when PLDT dropped a five-set semifinal to Akari—remembered largely for a disputed web fault problem within the dying moments.
Nonetheless, Reyes and the group pressed on. And this PVL on Tour convention proved to be their breakthrough: an eight-game sweep punctuated by two gut-check wins—a five-set comeback towards 10-time champion Creamline and a finals victory over Chery Tiggo, which featured her former La Salle teammates Ara Galang and Aby Maraño. Watching them from the stands was their legendary coach, Ramil De Jesus, his satisfaction seen in his smile.
“What we at all times reminded one another was to only maintain going,” Reyes mentioned. “Simply because we misplaced earlier than doesn’t imply it ends there. That’s why I believe this win was actually one thing good for all of us.”
PLDT coach Rald Ricafort gave Reyes her due.
“Mika’s focus and dedication have been on an entire totally different stage this convention—even from the beginning of our preparations,” Ricafort mentioned. “She’s at all times been hardworking, particularly with blocking, however she actually stepped up her offense, too. Every little thing she labored on in coaching lastly confirmed. From a method standpoint, she actually took benefit of her matchups.”
Her longtime teammate Majoy Baron, a three-time Greatest Center Blocker, was in awe.
“I used to be amazed,” Baron mentioned. “Ate Ye has at all times been my senior. I’ve at all times regarded as much as her and tried to observe her instance. I’m actually pleased with her. Her psychological toughness is simply superb.”
Even from afar, admiration poured in. ZUS Espresso’s Jovelyn Gonzaga, watching on tv, praised Reyes’s influence—on paper and past it.
“Her 20 factors plus all these block touches that don’t present within the stats,” Gonzaga posted. “Even of their previous video games, she had so many essential touches. I knew it. She deserved the Finals MVP. Congrats, Yeye.”
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After years of chasing a crown, Reyes now wears it—with a efficiency worthy of the wait. INQ
