Eyes on the prize: PLDT leaders Kath Arado, Savi Davison prime for new PVL push

MANILA — Coming off a hard-fought bronze finish in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference 2026, the PLDT High Speed Hitters seek to elevate their game, banking on their preparations to hopefully claim the top prize in the league’s milestone 10th season.

At the heart of PLDT’s sustained rise are defensive anchor Kath Arado and explosive outside hitter Savi Davison – two decorated stars whose synergy continues to set the benchmark for the franchise.

With 12 individual PVL awards combined, the duo has anchored both ends of the floor. Arado’s elite back-row defense and floor coverage consistently give the High Speed Hitters second-chance opportunities, setting up Davison’s heavy-hitting attacks at the net.

Their individual excellence has established a standard for the High Speed Hitters, serving as the cornerstone of the team’s growth into a dangerous contender in every tournament.

Ahead of the upcoming tournament, Davison noted that the team’s mindset remains focused on continuous growth.

“The mindset of every off-season is to be better than before,” last conference’s Best Outside Spiker said. “We fell short in the Invitational Conference, but we are heading into the new conference with some momentum. Hopefully we will be able to take the lessons learned and apply them during the off-season to propel us forward.”

“I am happy that we were able to close out the PVL Invitational Conference on a high note with a win,” Davison added. “Although the goal was to be placed in the finals, I believe that we were challenged and were able to grow in ways that were needed. I am proud of us for being able to respond accordingly in such a short period of time following mid-season losses – that’s what I am most happy about.”

Arado echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the mental and physical recovery needed ahead of the 10th season opener.

“Honestly, our Invitational Conference finish feels really fulfilling and emotional,” the captain, who won last conference’s Best Libero, recalled. “After the losses we experienced in the middle of the season, winning the bronze medal showed us that we were able to bounce back, stay together, and keep fighting.”

“It may not have been the result we initially wanted, but I’m really grateful for the lessons, the experience, and the opportunity to finish the conference on the podium. For us, the mindset is to use the previous season as motivation to keep improving,” she added.

A key highlight of PLDT’s recent campaign was their back-to-back victory against powerhouse Creamline to secure the podium finish. Facing one of the league’s most formidable rosters required total composure and discipline.

“Any match against Creamline is highly competitive. At no point during those two matches did we think we had the win secured, we had to push to the very end considering that they are capable of turning matches around if given the opportunity. From the very first point of the first match to the very last of the bronze match we had to stay consistent and confident in our abilities,” Davison recalled.

Arado described the turning point in those high-stakes encounters as a collective commitment to hold the line.

“I think the turning point was when we realized that we had already been through so much this season, but we were still standing and fighting together,” Arado recalled.

“In those last two games, every point felt so important, and we just refused to give up on each other. When we were able to fight back, especially in the crucial moments, I felt that this was our chance to finish strong. We believed in each other, trusted the process, and fought for every ball.”