One of Philippine volleyball’s steadiest hands has finally let go of the ball.
Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete officially announced her retirement last Friday, closing the curtain on a stellar 26-year volleyball career.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Villarete reflected on a journey that spanned more than two decades, expressing gratitude to her family, teammates, coaches, and the sport that shaped her life.
“Volleyball has been the source of so much joy for me in the past 26 years of my life. It taught me discipline, resilience, teamwork, and respect making the volleyball court feel like home and my teammates and coaches like my family,” Villarete said.
“Being an athlete has shown me what it means to show up every day and giving my all. It taught me how to dream big and relentlessly pursue those dreams. It has also given me opportunities to meet some of the most incredible people and live in the most memorable moments of my life,” she continued.
“And with that, I am forever grateful for all the valuable lessons volleyball has taught me and the countless blessings it has brought to me.”
(C) PVL Images
The announcement came days after her departure from Creamline ahead of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League season.
Villarete’s storied career began at the University of Santo Tomas, where she led the Golden Tigresses to the UAAP Season 72 championship and earned both Finals MVP and Best Setter honors.
Although the Golden Tigresses fell short of repeating in her final two seasons, Villarete’s command of the offense never wavered — a level of control and maturity that quickly set her apart as one of the country’s elite playmakers. She also won three Shakey’s V-League championships with UST.
Villarete went on to become a household name in the now-defunct Philippine Super Liga, winning a title with Foton before capturing three more with powerhouse Petron.
She last played in the PSL with Generika-Ayala before making the jump to PLDT when the team joined the PVL Open Conference in 2021, the league’s first fully professional season.
Villarete spent three years with the High Speed Hitters before taking a leave of absence in 2024 following her marriage. She parted ways with the squad in October 2024.
The two-time Shakey’s V-League Best Setter ended a six-month hiatus to join the Cool Smashers for the AVC Champions League, then signed with the team for the remainder of the 2025 PVL season, serving as Kyle Negrito’s backup.
Villarete went on to capture two bronze medals with Creamline before officially calling it quits.
