New-look Highrisers get all-Pinoy going; Eya-Sisi reunion also up
With a new coach and 14 new players, Galeries Tower ushers in a new era for the franchise as the Highrisers take the lid off of the season-ending PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday against Cignal at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
After cleaning house and tapping Aying Esteban to handle the squad, the Highrisers will be brandishing a totally different look with a team that will now be led by the seasoned Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, starting with their 4 p.m. clash with the HD Spikers.
Returning to the PVL for the first time since handling Chery Tiggo in 2023, Esteban admitted that he didn’t have enough time to integrate his system and put 14 new players and four mainstays, led by Alas setter Julia Coronel and No. 2 overall pick Jean Asis, on the same page.
“Honestly, our preparation was very short because we were really rebuilding the team, changing players and introducing a new system,” Esteban said. “Everything has been tight.
“I told management that since our preparation was very short, I wanted to bring in coaches who already understand the system we want to run.”
Maizo-Pontillas was the biggest signing for Galeries, which snagged the former Santo Tomas ace following Petro Gazz’s departure despite winning two titles last year. In the lefty, the Highrisers have a battle-tested leader.
“Aiza is a big help because she can guide the younger players on what they need to do,” Esteban explained. “She brings experience on the court and helps the team understand how to handle situations during games.”
The 37-year-old spiker already won a championship in every league and team she played for. Despite her age and accolades, she’s eager to make an impact for Galeries, which had a winless Reinforced Conference.
“Since Galeries finished near the bottom last season, my goal—not just mine, but all of us as a team—is to help the team improve little by little,” said Pontillas in Filipino.
“It’s about taking care of myself so I can play volleyball longer and really enjoy what I’m doing,” she said. “This is a new chapter for me and there are a lot of young players on this new team.”
Meanwhile, Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina make their on-court reunion when Choco Mucho takes on Akari at 6:30 p.m.
Laure returns to PVL action for the first time after more than a year due to the complications of her departure from Chery Tiggo, teaming up with Rondina, who brought honor to the country last December with a historic beach volleyball gold medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Akari seeks to spoil the Laure-Rondina reunion, as coach Tina Salak banks on Faith Nisperos, Ivy Lacsina, Fifi Sharma, Ced Domingo, Mars Alba and Justine Jazareno.
