PVL: Shola Alvarez joins Galeries Tower

Shola Alvarez joins Galeries Tower Highrisers. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Shola Alvarez is set to bolster the Galeries Tower Highrisers in their second season in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) starting in February.

Alvarez, a member of the disbanded F2 Logistics, signed with Galeries Tower together with France Ronquillo and Renee Mabilangan.

“We’re thrilled to have you on board bringing your talent and passion to the court,” the team wrote on Thursday.

It could be the chance for the former NCAA Most Valuable Player out of Jose Rizal University to come out of her shell as she joins a young team, which joined in the second All-Filipino Conference and only won one of its 11 games against Gerflor in five sets.

Alvarez, who was a rotation player for the Cargo Movers, is headed to her third pro club after playing for PLDT in the 2021 PVL bubble and spending the last two seasons with F2 Logistics before it decided to disband its team to focus on grassroots.

The former JRU start will be teaming up with Highrisers  Roma Joy Doromal, Ysa Jimenez, Dimdim Pacres, Raprap Aguilar, Audrey Paran, and Graze Bombita.

Alvarez was the latest F2 player to find a new home after Dawn Macandili- Catindig and Jovelyn Fernandez joined Cignal, Ara Galang, and Aby Marano signed with Chery Tiggo, Majoy Baron, Kianna Dy, and Kim Fajardo took their act to PLDT, Mars Alba (Choco Mucho), Ivy Lacsina (Nxled), and the troika of Myla Pablo, Ethan Arce, and Joy Dacoron move to Petro Gazz.

Meanwhile, Ronquillo adds more firepower to Galeries’ wing spiker rotation. She played for Chery Tiggo in the previous season.

Mabilangan is making her pro debut after playing for National University for one season. She will be teaming up with veteran setter Fhen Emnas.

Ronquillo and Mabilangan were part of NU’s perfect championship run in Season 84 two years ago, ending a 65-year title drought.