THAI volleyball fans have raised questions over the distribution of individual awards at the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, pointing out that Thailand’s champion EST Cola received only one major individual honor despite winning the tournament.
The reactions surfaced on social media following EST Cola’s championship victory over the Nxled Chameleons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.
Several Thai fans questioned why only EST Cola star Papatchaya Phontham was recognized among the major award winners, while Nxled players collected three positional honors despite finishing as runners-up.
Phontham, 20, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Spiker after helping EST Cola capture the championship. She finished the preliminary round second in scoring with 97 points from 84 attacks, seven aces and six blocks.
She also ranked third in spiking efficiency at 35.74 percent and fourth in service efficiency at 0.37 aces per set.
Nxled, meanwhile, had three players recognized among the tournament’s major awardees.
Jonah Sabete-Escamilla shared the Best Outside Spiker award with PLDT’s Savi Davison after finishing fifth in scoring with 84 points.
Chameleons middle blocker MJ Phillips was named Best Middle Blocker alongside Creamline’s Jaja Santiago-Minowa.
Nxled setter Gel Cayuna also claimed the Best Setter award after averaging 5.50 assists per set, earning her sixth recognition in the category.
The award distribution prompted some Thai supporters to question whether more recognition should have gone to EST Cola players following their championship run.
One post questioned the decision to give the Thai champions only one individual award, while another fan pointed out that EST Cola had consistently performed well throughout the tournament and ultimately won the title.
EST Cola emerged as only the second guest team to win the PVL Invitational, following Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze in 2023. (Adrian Co)
