PLDT High Speed Hitters setters Rhea Dimaculangan and Kim Fajardo. –PLDT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Kim Fajardo and Rhea Dimaculangan, two of the brightest setters in the country, will be finally playing together at the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
In a video posted by PLDT on Thursday, Dimaculangan shared her excitement about having Fajardo on her side after years of competing against each other in the club volleyball scene.
“I think this is the perfect time for us to be together again. Meant to be. Destiny,” said Dimaculangan in Filipino as Fajardo responded that she really loves the former.
READ: PVL: Kim Fajardo eager to tackle new challenges with PLDT
Fajardo, who chose PLDT together with Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron as their new home after F2 Logistics’ disbandment, is honored to team up with the playmaker she has been looking up to since she was in the University of Santo Tomas High School and even when she transferred to La Salle in college.
“I really love ate Rhea. From high school at UST until I graduated college in La Salle, she is the setter I look up to,” said Fajardo in Filipino. “I’m excited to be with Ate Rhea because we only trained together with the national team for a few months.”
“Now, I have a senior setter who will guide me, because for the longest time, I was always the senior,” she added.
Finally playing together
Kwentuhan ng dalawang magkaibigan through the years!
Rhea Dimaculangan and Kim Fajardo talk about playing under one team again after so many years. This is episode one of PLDT High-Speed Connections! ❤️🔥🏐🛜 #PLDTGameTime
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE: https://t.co/dmMNnDfoHX pic.twitter.com/4cgbmFQG8Z
— PLDT High Speed Hitters (@speedhitters) January 18, 2024
The 32-year-old PLDT mainstay said that she had a lot of chances to play with Fajardo in the past. She had expected to play with her fellow Batangueña in her final playing year in the UAAP but Fajardo chose La Salle as her college school, where she ended up winning three titles and two Best Setter Awards.
“When I was graduating, I waited for them in college and I was sure that I would be with Kim but she transferred. Even though she played for another school, our friendship didn’t change,” Dimaculangan said.
Dimaculangan also revealed that she had a chance to team up with Fajardo at Petron in the defunct Philippine Superliga but younger decided to stay with F2 Logistics, leading to the rivalry of both club teams in a couple of championship games.
“Kim had a chance to transfer to Petron. They didn’t know that. So I expected that we’d be teammates but it didn’t push through,” Dimaculangan said. “When it first came out that she’s transferring to PLDT, I didn’t believe it at first until Kim finally confirmed it.”
Now that they are finally teammates, Dimaculangan assured that she and Fajardo will continue to bring out the best in each other.
“We will continue to have a healthy competition. Kim has been challenging me and I think I was also able to challenge her. We’re happy that nothing has changed between the two of us,” said Dimaculangan. “I am confident now because whoever enters the court either me or Kim will perform.”
“The pressure is on coach [Rald Ricafort],” she added with laughter.