PLDT gears up for PVL comeback

MANILA, Philippines — After a two-year absence in the volley scene, PLDT will make a return stint to the Premier Volleyball League.

Roger Gorayeb said he had already informed BaliPure team manager Paulo Turno of his plan to move over to his mother club team PLDT as its coach in time for the PVL’s season-opening Reinforced Conference tentatively set on April 1.

“I’ve just talked to him (Turno) and I explained that I have no choice but to leave since PLDT is my mother team,” said Gorayeb.

He said PLDT will be led by former league MVP Grethcel Soltones, Lizlee Ann Pantone and Alyssa Eroa from BaliPure and San Sebastian standouts Joyce Sta. Rita and Katherine Villegas.

Gorayeb added that the team will be reinforced by a number of UAAP stars, the names of which he would disclose at the end of the UAAP volley season.

PLDT is a former league powerhouse, winning two championships in the defunct Shakey’s V-League Open and Reinforced Conferences two years ago.

In fact, their star players back then included Alyssa Valdez, now the main star of the Creamline Cool Smashers.

PLDT, however, took a leave of absence with Gorayeb tapped as mentor of BaliPure, which he steered to a runner-up and a pair of third place finishes in 2016 and a championship last year.