The PLDT High Speed Hitters have signed Kath Arado, Jessey De Leon and Mean Mendrez as part of their revamping process for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League 2022 season, the team announced Sunday.
The trio, who previously played for the Petro Gazz Angels, hopes to fuel the squad that has only retained four players in veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan, opposite hitter Eli Soyud, outside spiker Chin Basas and libero Nieza Viray.
“Ang isang factor na nag-decide na sumali ako sa PLDT is yung magiging teammates ko,” said Arado, the reigning PVL Open Conference Best Libero.
“Kami nila Ate Rhea, Chin at Ate Eli, nagsama-sama nun sa Generika. Kilala ko na po sila eh, at malaking bagay yun. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na pumunta dito.”
It also helped that she would also still be playing with former Petro Gazz teammates
De Leon and Mendrez.
Apart from rebuilding the squad, the High Speed Hitters will also be playing under a new coach in George Pascua.
Pascua will be filling in the shoes of Roger Gorayeb, who has been PLDT’s coach since 2013.
“Yung pagkuha nila sa akin, very unexpected. Hindi ko ko inexpect kasi marami silang ina-eye na head coach. Happy and excited at the same time,” said Pascua, who is also the head coach of the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.
The High Speed Hitters aim to eclipse their seventh place finish out of 10 teams in last year’s Open Conference held in Ilocos Norte.