Mika Reyes has finally made her decision.
After long deliberation with her camp, the 6-foot middle blocker has signed with PLDT Home Fibr for the upcoming 2022 Premier Volleyball League season.
And for the 27-year-old native of Pulilan, Bulacan, the High Speed Hitters is the team that will help her develop more as a player.
“Unang-una, siyempre malaking factor ‘yung team composition kasi PLDT was looking for middles,” said Reyes. “Tapos out of all teams that made an offer, sila Sir Bajjie [Del Rosario, team manager] ang talagang naramdaman ko who really wants me. Nagulat ako na sobrang interested nila na kunin ako sa team so I’m very grateful.”
In PLDT, Reyes reunites with Rhea Dimaculangan, with whom she won three championships during their time in Petron from 2017-19. In addition, she gets to play alongside former Sta. Lucia players Dell Palomata and Jovie Prado.
“Of course, pero hindi lang si Ate Rhea lang makakasama ko muli. Si Dell and si Jovie nakasama ko din sa Sta. Lucia,” the four-time PSL Best Middle Blocker said. “Maganda ring time ito compared to time namin before. This time, may mashe-share na kami sa isa’t isa ni Ate Rhea. Iba na rin ‘yung level ng paglalaro namin ngayon. After three years, magkakasama na kami muli at mas madami na na-experience namin now.”
What excites Reyes the most is that she finally gets to be under new High Speed Hitters head coach George Pascua.
Reyes had only faced Pascua before in the PSL.
“To be honest, never ko pa siya nakasama,” shared Reyes. “Magandang experience ito for me to adjust sa system niya. Especially now na target is next month mag-start, kailangan mag-adapt ako kagad sa system niya. Nagtitiwala ako sa goals niya for the team and same sa bago kong mga teammates.”
Other new additions to PLDT are Kath Arado, Jessey De Leon, Mean Mendrez, Wendy Semana, Fiola Ceballos, and Lhara Clavano.
Besides Dimaculangan, the team retained Chin Basas, Eli Soyud, and Nieza Viray.
Expectations will be high for PLDT —a team coming off a seventh-place finish in last year’s open conference —as it has a cracked lineup on paper.
But Reyes though wants to temper it, saying that the team has to gel first before they can the high standards set on to them.
“I’m a team player and as long as we work out namin ‘yung chemistry, makakatulong yun sa amin. Talagang nag-revamp din ‘yung PLDT now so magiging challenge sa amin ‘yung chemistry.”