Galeries Tower is looking to turn a new page and start from scratch in its sixth Premier Volleyball League conference.
The Highrisers’ management made a bold move to kick off 2026 by releasing 13 players and signing 14 new ones, signaling a full-scale rebuild.
A new coaching staff, led by Clarence Esteban, has also been introduced to oversee the project as Galeries Tower aims for higher heights in the upcoming 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Highrisers will open the season-ending conference on Saturday, January 31, against Cignal at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
With limited time to implement his system, Esteban will rely on veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas to guide the new-look Galeries in its first PVL campaign together.
“Syempre malaking tulong si Aiza kasi may mag-ga-guide dun sa mga bata kung ano yung dapat nilang gawin,” said Esteban on Wednesday during the AFC Press Conference at Discovery Suites in Ortigas.
“So merong magdadala sa loob ng court na eksperyensiyado, makakatulong sa team na kung paanong gagawin sa loob ng court. Siya yung talagang magiging ate sa loob ng court.”
(C) PVL Images
Pontillas will lead the young core of Julia Coronel and Jean Asis, along with new signees Erika Raagas, Jules Samonte, and Gayle Pascual.
Other new additions to the Highrisers include BLove Barbon, Cams Victoria, Shola Alvarez, Lycha Ebon, Julia Angeles, Dolly Versoza, Erika Deloria, Sharya Ancheta, Venice Puzon, and Maji Mangulabnan.
While relying on Pontillas inside the court, Esteban has also tapped trusted colleagues to join him on the sidelines. Rommel Abella will serve as his deputy, marking their return to the PVL after guiding Balipure from 2019 to 2022.
Esteban and Abella are also coaching the University of Santo Tomas boys’ volleyball team, while Esteban additionally handles Mapua University’s men’s and women’s teams.
“Syempre ‘yung mga kasama ko sa coaching staff ko, sila kasi ‘yung mga trusted ko na tao na makakatulong sa team. So sinabi ko nga sa management na sobrang short ng preparation, so maglalagay ako ng mga coaches na alam na ‘yung sistema na gusto namin mangyari,” shared Esteban.
While already tempering expectations given they only had a month to prepare, the Highrisers promise to be a team to watch, blending youthful energy with veteran experience in hopes of securing wins.
“Sa totoo lang very short ‘yung preparation namin kasi talagang nag-rebuild ng team, nagpalit ng mga players, magpapalit ng bagong sistema, so very tight ‘yung nangyaring preparation namin nitong season na ‘to,” said Esteban.
#WATCH: VERY SHORT ANG PREPARATION NAMIN 🏐
New Galeries Tower head coach Clarence Esteban tempers expectations for their #PVL2026 campaign#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/RdTFRfoUHA
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/gGg14Ppfxt
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 28, 2026
