From longing on the sidelines to lifting a trophy on center court, rookie Alleiah Malaluan’s journey with PLDT has been nothing short of poetic. Once left to watch from afar as the High Speed Hitters claimed glory, she finally stood where she always dreamed of being — front and center, celebrating a championship of her own.
Malaluan had to endure a bittersweet wait earlier this year. During PLDT’s successful PVL On Tour campaign, she was bound by her commitment to Alas Pilipinas, forced to miss what could have been her first taste of club triumph. It was a sacrifice that left her eager, even restless, to prove she belonged in the fold.
That chance arrived in the 2025 PVL Invitational Conference, and this time, she made it count.
“Syempre sobrang fulfilling kasi finally… I’ve been waiting for this time, kasi syempre ‘yung ibang rookies, they’ve been playing with their teams [already],” Malaluan shared after PLDT’s thrilling 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18 victory over Kobe Shinwa University in the gold medal match.
“So parang nilu-look forward ko rin talaga na makapag-play with the team. I’m really blessed with everything na dumadating sa’kin.”
Picked ninth overall in the 2025 PVL Draft, the former La Salle standout quickly earned her stripes in the elimination round, steadily carving out a role in the starting six. Her maturity and composure belied her rookie status, allowing her to grow into a reliable weapon in PLDT’s balanced attack.
And when the stakes were highest, Malaluan rose to the occasion. Against the Japanese guest team, she tallied 15 points — a performance that underscored her readiness for the big stage and her value to PLDT’s back-to-back title run.
Still, the rookie refused to make it all about her. She credited her breakthrough to the trust and support she received from her teammates and coaches.
“I’m really happy that I was able to play with the team. Grabe ‘yung pagod, ‘yung perseverance of everyone — sobrang hands down ako kasi grabe talaga,” she said with pride.
“I’m really happy that I’m playing with this set of teammates and syempre ‘yung coaching staff, sobrang tiyaga nila especially sa’kin kasi as someone who’s been training with the team for a few weeks nga lang ata, na solid talaga sa [starting] six, sobrang ‘di nila ako pinapabayaan sa loob ng court.”
For Malaluan, this first championship isn’t an endpoint but a beginning. The taste of victory has only sharpened her hunger, fueling her desire to write more chapters in PLDT’s championship story.
“At the same time, nilu-look forward ko pa ‘yung more championships with the team kasi kaya naman namin eh.”
