AIZA Maizo-Pontillas has just become Galeries Tower’s biggest franchise signing in its two-year history.
The 37-year-old Philippine volleyball icon brings one of the most decorated resumés in the sport to a young and rebuilding Highrisers squad in a surprise move that came on the heels of Petro Gazz’s decision to take a leave of absence from the PVL.
‘Nang Aiza’ arrives with a staggering collection of 20 individual awards accumulated across four major leagues over a playing career that has spanned more than 15 years.
READ: ANALYSIS: PVL at a tipping point as two independent teams leave
Her legacy was forged during her golden years at University of Santo Tomas, where she captained the Tigresses to two UAAP championships and five Shakey’s V-League titles.
Individually, she collected two MVP awards and three Finals MVP citations, cementing her status as one of the most dominant collegiate players of her generation.
A defining hallmark of Maizo-Pontillas’ career has been her rare versatility.
Across both collegiate and club competitions, she has earned individual recognition in nearly every major skill category, save for digging and setting.
That excellence seamlessly translated to the professional ranks.
In the Philippine Superliga, she won three championships with Petron, captured four Best Opposite Hitter awards and was crowned MVP of the 2017 PSL All-Filipino Conference.
A brief stop with Sta. Lucia in 2021 preceded her move to Petro Gazz, where she became one of the Angels’ primary offensive pillars.
With Petro Gazz, Maizo-Pontillas added three PVL championships to her resumé, including titles in what would turn out to be the franchise’s final two regular conferences before stepping away from the league.
The Passi native, who has also suited up for the Philippine Army and Air Force, is among the notable Angels free agents who opted against joining the expected migration to Nxled for the 2026 PVL season.
Instead, she now becomes a cornerstone of Galeries Tower’s sweeping reset.
As the Highrisers usher in a new era marked by a completely revamped coaching staff and the departure of 13 roster mainstays, Maizo-Pontillas’ arrival signals both ambition and belief to a franchise eager to redefine itself in 2026.
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