Galeries Tower began filling in key pieces to its roster following a major reset with just a couple of weeks left before the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference action begins on 31 January.
Less than 24 hours after formally releasing 13 of their 17 players from the previous lineup, along with their coaching staff, the Highrisers acquired new faces that will banner the franchise, hoping to turn their fortune around after languishing at the bottom half of the standings since joining the league in 2023.
Announced in batches on Saturday night and Sunday morning, Galeries Tower signed wingers Erika Raagas, Lycha Ebon, Cams Victoria and Erika Deloria while bringing in defense specialists BLove Barbon, Juju Angeles and Dolly Versoza.
They will join holdovers top setter Julia Coronel and middle blockers Jean Asis, Winnie Bedana and Roselle Baliton.
Raagas is expected to bring in the firepower after spending three seasons with Akari in a limited capacity due to injuries.
Now healthy, the Ateneo de Manila University product has the chance to reintroduce her scoring prowess with her new club.
Galeries Tower can fully utilize Ebon, who was released by Nxled, on both offense and floor defense, while Barbon and Angeles will inject championship experience after both liberos figured in the mid-season Reinforced Conference finals for Petro Gazz and ZUS Coffee, respectively.
Versoza, Deloria and Victoria are all experienced players looking to get another break after serving relief roles in their former teams.
The Highrisers seek a new direction by signing decorated mentors Clarence Esteban and Rommel Abella to hold the reins.
Meanwhile, Akari made its own pre-conference move by taking in grizzled veterans Judith Abil from Cignal, Cza Carandang and Jyne Soreno from disbanded Chery Tiggo.
Carandang will fill in the frontline void left by Ezra Madrigal and Victoria for the Chargers.
Soreno and Abil’s versatility is a luxury for Akari.