Perlas Spikers picked up two defensive specialists for their upcoming campaign in the 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
Team founder Charo Soriano revealed that the team has added Adamson products Thang Ponce and Jellie Tempiatura.
“To be able to complement the blocking, we also got new recruits for our liberos – si Thang Ponce and Jelle Tiempatura,” Soriano told the Athlete’s Tribune.
Early in the day, Perlas also officially inked Cherry Nunag.
Ponce, 22, was supposed to play for Creamline for the 2020 PVL Season. However, the 5-foot-2 libero out of Bataan was not able to play a single game for the Cool Smashers due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tempiatura, on the other hand, is a 23-year-old defensive specialist. She was part of the Motolite team that disbanded.
Soriano did not reveal the status of their other liberos Gizelle Tan and Princess Balang.
Coming off a third place finish in the 2019 Open Conference, Soriano is hoping that Perlas can sustain their fine form.
However, there will be more obstacles to overcome with the additions of PLDT, Cignal, and Peak Form to the country’s first-ever professional women’s volleyball league.
But for the product of Ateneo, having the majority of the country’s elite volleyball teams under one umbrella will only lead to good things.
“So we’re very excited to play with PLDT. Peak Form is a new team so siyempre, looking forward din kami na makalaban sila and Cignal, as well,” said Soriano, a member of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation board.
“Siguro, this is the start of something great wherein there’s a little bit or unification coming along. And for me, one step at a time is very good.”
