PLDT taps Russian Anastasiia Bavykina for PVL Reinforced Conference

The PLDT High Speed Hitters are hell-bent on capturing a third straight title after tapping veteran Russian spiker Anastasiia Bavykina for their upcoming campaign in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference that starts in October.

PLDT announced Bavykina's signing on Tuesday as the squad eyes another championship following its twin success in the PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference last month.

"Join us as we officially welcome Anastasiia Bavykina to the High Speed Hitters family! She will be joining the PLDT squad in the upcoming 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference," PLDT said in a Facebook post.

The 33-year-old Bavykina suited up as an outside hitter for Yenisey Krasnoyarsk in Russia and is tipped to provide huge help to the core made up of Savi Davison, Mika Reyes, Kim Kianna Dy, Jovie Prado, Majoy Baron, and Kim Fajardo. 

PLDT is coming off back-to-back titles in the last two conferences, sweeping both the PVL On Tour and PVL Invitational competitions to seize their first professional titles after coming up short in the previous tournaments. 

PLDT won its first-ever title after going unbeaten in eight games in the PVL On Tour, including a 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8 win against Chery Tiggo to clinch the trophy.

They followed it up with another tournament sweep in the Invitational, defeating guest team Kobe Shinwa University, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18 in the finals.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News