PLDT Home Fibr has revealed its final acquisition for the upcoming 2021 volleyball season.
Decorated setter Rhea Dimaculangan has been tapped to be the lead playmaker for the Power Hitters.
And for head coach Roger Gorayeb, it was only right that he and the 29-year-old setter be reunited in this rebuild for the PLDT franchise.
“Si Rhea kasi kabisado ko na. Naging setter ko siya sa national team, nakapag-champion din kami dati sa Sandugo, pati sa mga laro sa probinsya,” said Gorayeb, recalling the times he had Dimaculangan as his setter in 2013 and 2015 with the national team and with Sandugo-San Sebastian during the 2012 V-League Open Conference.
“Talagang kilala ko na si Rhea at sanay na rin siya sa akin.”
Dimaculangan is as decorated as they come.
The 5-foot-7 setter out of University of Santo Tomas is a three-time PSL Best Setter and was hailed as the 2018 PSL All-Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player.
Dimaculangan, a native of Batangas, previously played for clubs Foton, Petron, and Generika-Ayala.
Dimaculangan joins former Generika teammates Eli Soyud, Chin Basas, and Yeye Gabarda; San Beda product Nieza Viray; and UP stalwarts Isa Molde and Marist Layug as the key pick-ups for PLDT in the off-season.
Holdovers from last year are Shola Alvarez, Jorelle Singh, Aiko Urdas, Joyce Sta. Rita, Vira Guillema, Kath Villegas, and Alyssa Eroa.
With a deep team, Gorayeb, a triple crown champion in the V-League, believes that his Power Hitters has what it takes to keep in step with the country’s finest teams.
“Masaya na ako sa team na ito kasi parang nagkaroon ng rebirth yung PLDT dahil sa mga bagong players. Naging kumpleto na siya. Yung huling championship ko sa Bali Pure, mixture talaga yun ng NU at San Sebastian,” said Gorayeb about the Bali Pure team that won the 2017 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
“Itong team na ito, halo-halo na talaga ng players na nagsisimula na sa pros. Parang halos batang-bata yung team na ito pero based on their experience, laban na sila. Lalaban yung team na ito.”
