Mika Reyes goes on attack mode. —MARLO CUETO
Mika Reyes saved her career game for the perfect moment—PLDT’s long-awaited coronation. For the 31-year-old middle blocker, the title wasn’t just a trophy. It was the culmination of wins, heartbreaks and sacrifices that spanned three years with the High Speed Hitters.
When Chery Tiggo erased PLDT’s two-set lead and threatened to break their hearts once more, Reyes rose to the moment. She delivered a Finals performance for the ages, setting a PVL championship game record with seven kill blocks, adding 13 spikes for a career-high 20 points. Her efforts anchored PLDT’s 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8 win in front of 11,055 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena—and sealed their first professional crown.
Reyes didn’t even hear her name announced as Finals MVP. She was still wrapped in the moment, focused on the one goal that had eluded PLDT for so long.
“I think what made this so fulfilling is all the sacrifices we each made,” she told the Inquirer in Filipino. “We finally got it—and we all gave up so much for this. That’s why I truly believe everyone deserves this: the players, coaches, utility staff and management.”
Since joining PLDT in 2022 after Sta. Lucia disbanded, Reyes has been through the highs and lows of the team’s journey—from big wins to painful playoff exits. One of those low points came in last year’s Reinforced Conference, when PLDT dropped a five-set semifinal to Akari—remembered mostly for a disputed net fault challenge in the dying moments.
Still, Reyes and the team pressed on. And this PVL on Tour conference proved to be their breakthrough: an eight-game sweep punctuated by two gut-check wins—a five-set comeback against 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 pride visible in his smile.
“What we always reminded each other was to just keep going,” Reyes said. “Just because we lost before doesn’t mean it ends there. That’s why I think this win was really something good for all of us.”
PLDT coach Rald Ricafort gave Reyes her due.
“Mika’s focus and commitment were on a whole different level this conference—even from the start of our preparations,” Ricafort said. “She’s always been hardworking, especially with blocking, but she really stepped up her offense, too. Everything she worked on in training finally showed. From a strategy standpoint, she really took advantage of her matchups.”
Her longtime teammate Majoy Baron, a three-time Best Middle Blocker, was in awe.
“I was amazed,” Baron said. “Ate Ye has always been my senior. I’ve always looked up to her and tried to follow her example. I’m really proud of her. Her mental toughness is just amazing.”
Even from afar, admiration poured in. ZUS Coffee’s Jovelyn Gonzaga, watching on television, praised Reyes’s impact—on paper and beyond it.
“Her 20 points plus all those block touches that don’t show in the stats,” Gonzaga posted. “Even in their past games, she had so many crucial 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 performance worthy of the wait. INQ