Tubu opens path to success with no-tomorrow approach

TrishaTubu—PVL IMAGES

Trisha Tubu was asked if she ever imagined herself winning a Most Valuable Player award.

“No, not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine receiving an award like this,” Tubu told reporters after being named PVL Season MVP during the 2nd Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on Saturday at Novotel.

Perhaps even casual fans couldn’t imagine that either.

Among the MVP finalists, Tubu was the only player who did not win a conference MVP award. But her consistency and statistical dominance made her the season’s top performer.

Tubu credited her success to a mindset of treating every match as if it were her last.

“For me, I approach every game like it could be my last. That’s why I always try to give 101 percent, whether it’s the start of the conference, the quarterfinals or any stage of the tournament,” she said.

“I don’t really think about individual awards. What I focus on is helping the team.”

The 25-year-old opposite spiker topped the MVP race with a weighted score of 171.868, based on statistics (50 percent), media votes (30 percent) and team votes (20 percent).

Tubu averaged 108.868 statistical points—the highest among all MVP candidates—across the PVL On Tour, Invitational and All-Filipino conferences.

She also received 50.4 media votes and 25.2 team votes to secure the league’s highest individual honor during the annual awards night supported by Immuni+ and Rebisco.

The Farm Fresh star said winning the Season MVP award, along with her second Best Opposite Spiker citation, serves as motivation to keep improving.

“The more awards I receive, the higher the standards I set for myself. It becomes a challenge every time I’m recognized because I want to prove to myself and to others that I deserve these awards,” she said.

“That means I have to work even harder behind the scenes and continue raising my level.”

Meanwhile, Jude Garcia of Criss Cross was named Spikers’ Turf Season MVP after leading the King Crunchers to back-to-back championships.

Garcia and Criss Cross skipped the ceremony because of a prior commitment in South Korea.

Tubu also headlined the PVL Mythical Team alongside open spikers Savi Davison of PLDT and Bella Belen of Capital1; middle blockers Pangs Panaga of Creamline and Majoy Baron of PLDT; setter Gel Cayuna of Nxled; and libero Kath Arado of PLDT.

Belen was named Rookie of the Year, Creamline earned Team of the Year honors, while Game 2 of the All-Filipino Conference Finals between Creamline and Cignal was recognized as Game of the Year.

Garcia was joined in the Spikers’ Turf Mythical Team by teammate and fellow open spiker Noel Kampton.

Also named to the team were Savouge middle blockers Giles Torres and JP Bugaoan, Criss Cross setter Adrian Villados, Savouge opposite hitter Mark Calado, and Criss Cross libero John Pepito.

PLDT’s Rald Ricafort and Criss Cross’ Tai Bundit received Coach of the Year honors, while Creamline’s Jonathan Ng was named Executive of the Year.

Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez was recognized as Miss Quality Minutes, Capital1’s Erika Santos as Most Improved Player, and PLDT’s Kim Kianna Dy as Comeback Player of the Year.

Special citations were also given to the Alas Pilipinas women’s beach volleyball team for winning a historic gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and to the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team for its breakthrough campaign in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship last September and its SEA Games bronze-medal finish.

Turning heads with their glamorous looks at the gala, Baron and Calado were named Stars of the Night.

Baron wore an elegant black gown that accentuated her statuesque frame, while Calado impressed in a sleek black suit.