PLDT Home Fibr continued to load up its roster for the upcoming 2022 Premier Volleyball League season, adding towering middle blocker Dell Palomata and crafty outside hitter Jovie Prado.
Both Palomata, 26, and Prado, 25, previously played for Sta. Lucia during the last conference.
However, the Lady Realtors took a leave of absence for this season, forcing them to disband the team.
Palomata though did not think twice about where she would be for this season.
After all, new High Speed Hitters head coach George Pascua was one of her mentors when she played for Choco Mucho in the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship while assistant coach Raffy Mosuela is also part of the Philippine Air Force.
“Sumali ako sa PLDT dahil sa coaches,” said Palomata, who will be a special guest player for PLDT as she is an enlisted Air Force personnel.
“Naging coach ko si Coach George sa national team tapos si Coach Raffy kasama ko na sa Air Force kaya mas pinili ko yung PLDT. Malaking bagay ‘yun para mas ma-enhance pa ‘yung talent.
“Iba sila mag-coach sa akin, mas naipapakita ko pa ‘yung talagang kaya ko nu’ng sila ang coach ko,” she continued.
It also helped Palomata that she would have Prado with her as during their short run in Sta. Lucia, the two became close pals.
“Malaking bagay kasi naging kasama ko rin si Jovy sa Sta. Lucia. Iba ‘yung pinakita namin sa Sta. Lucia last conference,” the 6’3″ blocker continued as the two of them were the breakout stars of the Lady Realtors last year. “Para sa akin, mas lalo pa namin maipapakita ‘yung galing namin sa laro this conference.”
Palomata and Prado join Kath Arado, Jessey De Leon, and Mean Mendrez as the new signings of PLDT so far. They will also join holdovers Rhea Dimaculangan, Chin Basas, Eli Soyud, and Nieza Viray.
The native of Batan, Aklan is looking forward to being part of the suddenly veteran-laden team when the 2022 PVL Open Conference opens shop tentatively on February 16.
“Goal ko sa team na ito is ‘yung magpatuloy pa ‘yung improvement ko kasi alam ko madami pa ako kayang maipapakita. At siyempre mabigay ‘yung championship sa PLDT kasi kahit ako, hanggang second place lang ako lagi,” she shared. “Sana ngayon makuha ko na ‘yung championship.”
