GALERIES Tower will lean heavily on past and present exports of University of Santo Tomas' storied volleyball programs, as it enters its next era.
The Highrisers have appointed the coaching tandem of Aying Esteban and John Abella as their one-two punch at the helm beginning with the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
READ PVL TRACKER: All offseason moves ahead of 2026 season
Both Esteban and Abella also serve as the current coaches of UST’s boys’ volleyball team in the UAAP, further cementing the Thomasian influence within the club.
Supporting the new leadership is a quartet with likewise deep ties in Espana, composed of former and current players, coaches, and staff.
Joining the Galeries Tower coaching and support crew are JM Millado, Emman Dedoroy, Lorence Cruz, and physical therapist Migs Dizon.
This Thomasian lineage within the Highrisers is not new by any means.
From the franchise’s inception in 2023 up until the conclusion of the 2025 PVL on Tour preseason tournament, they were guided by Golden Tigresses deputy coach Lerma Giron.
For the year-ending Reinforced Conference, Giron briefly handed over the reins to longtime deputy and PVL champion coach Godfrey Okumu.
This latest change in leadership signals the beginning of Galeries Tower’s own offseason shakeup, as it looks to chart a new direction after modest results in its first few years in the league.
Finally on the rise
Even before the unveiling of the new coaching staff, roster changes were already underway.
Pioneer mainstays and former captain Fhen Emnas, along with Dimdim Pacres, have both parted ways with the Highrisers.
Shortly after, key spikers Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo were confirmed to have jointly transferred to Capital1 ahead of the 2026 season.
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