Like the majority of the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, Mika Reyes has yet to step foot on the fabled Taraflex of the Premier Volleyball League.
But after last Tuesday, the 26-year-old middle hitter gets to scratch that off her bucket list. Sta. Lucia has transferred from the Philippine Superliga to the PVL.
Reyes admitted that the move did not catch her by surprise. After all, the team’s management was very transparent with the team about their intentions of moving to the country’s first-ever professional league for women’s volleyball.
“Hindi na rin ako nagulat kasi malaki ‘yung chance na lilipat kami.
“Na heads-up na rin naman kami na 50-50 chance talaga na lumipat, at huwag na kami magulat ‘pag lumipat kami sa kabilang liga. Siyempre, sabi ko, nakaka-miss din talaga maglaro sa PSL. But this time, wow, different league naman. Exciting,” she told The Game.
A day later, Sta. Lucia also gained clearance to train after the Games and Amusements Board and the local government of Rizal approved One Cainta as the team’s facility.
Besides getting the approval for the training venues in preparation for the 2021 Open Conference — which opens on May 8 — many teams have beefed up their lineups. Meanwhile, F2 Logistics has also entered the fray.
But for the four-time PSL champion, the playing field will be balanced as all the players are coming off long layoffs.
“For sure meron kasi lahat ng teams start-from-scratch.
“From a very long break tapos kakabalik niyo pa lang ng volleyball, bago pa lahat, I think lahat ng players maninibago. Eventually, makakapa rin namin ‘yung paglalaro namin. ‘Yun ‘yung hirap e, kasi kahit nagzoo-zoom meetings kami, iba pa rin ‘yung laro sa court,” said Reyes, as Sta. Lucia also has a core that includes MJ Phillips and new recruit Aiza Maizo-Pontillas.
Besides her excitement to meet old foes once more, Reyes can’t wait to face her former rivals, especially former Ateneo Lady Eagles who have been in the PVL for the past six years.
“Sobrang dami kasi ang dami kong hindi nakalaban sa PSL na hindi ko nakalaban nung college. Siyempre, ‘yung rival school namin na players from Ateneo. Tapos ‘yung mga galing sa different league like NCAA, pati na ‘yung mga dumiretso from college to PVL,” said four-time PSL Best Middle Blocker.
“Sobrang exciting ‘yung liga na ‘to.”
