Galeries Tower joined the offseason recruitment spree after landing three key pieces in its build-up for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season starting next month.
The Highrisers, who are in their second tournament after joining the league last conference, signed Shola Alvarez, France Ronquillo and Renee Mabilangan with hopes of a better showing for the season-opening conference beginning 17 February.
Galeries Tower formally introduced its latest recruits on Thursday, 11 January, through its social media accounts.
Alvarez, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player, is a seasoned versatile winger who last saw action for the disbanded F2 Logistics.
She will be reinforcing the Lerma Giron-mentored squad’s wings along with Ronquillo, who was released by Chery Tiggo after her contract expired last month.
Alvarez and Ronquillo will team up holdovers Ysa Jimenez, Roma Joy Doromal, Audrey Paran, Graze Bombita and Dimdim Pacres.
Mabilangan, meanwhile, will serve as backup to team captain Fen Emnas and another veteran setter Acy Masangkay. Mabilangan played for National University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The Highrisers were one of the two expansion teams that made their debuts in the season-ending 2nd All-Filipino Conference. Nxled, a sister team of Akari, was the other newcomer last season that expanded the field to a record 12 clubs.
Galeries Tower finished 11th with just one win in 11 outings. Its lone win came at the expense of embattled Gerflor, a dramatic come-from-behind decision, 18-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11.
