Eli Soyud, Alyssa Eroa, and Chie Saet. PVL Media Bureau/file photos

MANILA, Philippines – Eli Soyud, Alyssa Eroa, and Chie Saet will join other outstanding performers to be feted in the first-ever Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on May 28 at Novotel in Quezon City.

The trio will be honored with special awards after their remarkable showing in the previous three conferences of the country's first and only women's professional volleyball league.

Soyud found a home in Akari and repaid the club's trust by rising as one of its go-to spikers on her way to bagging the Most Improved Player recognition in the formal awards night presented by Arena Plus.

The 5-foot-10 opposite hitter out of Bago, Negros Occidental was instrumental in the Chargers’ sudden ascent after import Oly Okaro led them to a silver finish in the 2024 Reinforced Conference.

Soyud filled in the big shoes left by Okaro to earn a bronze medal in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.

One of her most memorable games to date came in the semifinals of the record six-month-long AFC wherein Soyud delivered a career-best 34 points in a five-set win against Choco Mucho.

Although voting was tight, Soyud ran away with the award after a earning a huge margin in team votes.

Soyud edged out Most Improved Player finalists Creamline players Bernadeth Pons and Bea De Leon for the award. 

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The Akari scorer received 5.4 media votes and 4.8 team votes, doubling the count of her closest pursuer.

Meanwhile, Eroa’s story from almost quitting from the sport she loves to becoming one of the most prominent liberos in the league earned her the Comeback Player of the Year honors.

The 4-foot-11 defensive specialist made her return to the PVL in 2024 through Galeries Tower, three years after her last stint with PLDT during the bubble season in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

And she more than impressed during her stay with the Highrisers.

Despite a winless Reinforced campaign, Eroa still stood tall by winning the Best Libero plum in that conference.

She was the heart and soul of the Highrisers, leading them to a breakthrough quarterfinals appearance after stunning No.3 Cignal in the qualifying round before falling short in their first playoffs against Akari.

Eroa barely surpassed Jovelyn Gonzaga of ZUS Coffee for the citation, with a total of 8.8 total votes compared to 8.2 of the latter.

The San Sebastian College-Recoletos product received an overwhelming 7.2 media votes but despite lagging in the team votes with just 1.6, she still garnered enough numbers to win the award. PLDT’s Savi Davison was the other nominee.

Lastly, Saet was hailed as Miss Quality Minutes for her substantial contribution during the times that Petro Gazz needed her.

The 40-year-old setter played a huge role in the Angels’ championship run in the 2024-25 AFC, becoming the main playmaker during the postseason.

Saet received an overwhelming 14.4 total votes - 8.4 from the media and 6.0 from the teams - to run away with the accolade.

Other finalists were Cignal’s Judith Abil and Choco Mucho’s Royse Tubino.