Veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan completes the cast of PLDT Home Fibr’s lean recruits for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League season, the team announced Sunday, February 7.
The 5-foot-7 setter will be reuniting with coach Roger Gorayeb, where they last played together in 2013 and 2015 with the national team as well as with the Sandugo-San Sebastian in the 2012 V-League Open Conference.
“Si Rhea kasi kabisado ko na at sanay na rin siya sa akin (I know Rhea and she knows me too),” Gorayeb said.
Dimaculangan boasts of a successful career in the Philippine Superliga, where the 29-year-old former University of Santo Tomas standout won the 2018 All Filipino Conference Most Valuable Player as well as three Best Setter plums.
She has previously played for Foton, Petron and Generika-Ayala.
With her acquisition, 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.
Now with a retooled lineup, Gorayeb hopes to build a dynasty in the league.
"Masaya na ako sa team na ito kasi parang nagkaroon ng rebirth yung PLDT dahil sa mga bagong players. Naging kumpleto na siya. (I’m happy with the team because it feels like PLDT had rebirth with the presence of new players. They’re now complete),” Gorayeb said, describing his squad as a mixture of pros and upcomers.