PLDT Volleyball Club (men)

This article is about men's volleyball team. For women's volleyball team, see PLDT Volleyball Club (women). For the other women's PLDT team, see PLDT Home Fibr. For the PLDT sponsored teams that played in the 2014 AVC Club Championships, see PLDT HOME TVolution team.

The PLDT Home Fibr Hitters, or the PLDT Volleyball Club is a former professional men's volleyball team owned by PLDT. It was established in 2013 and originally consisted of men's and women's teams. In 2018, the women's team became merged with the Smart Giga Hitters (later renamed PLDT Home Fibr Hitters women's team).^[1] The men's team has been playing in the Spikers' Turf since October 2018.^[2]

PLDT Volleyball Club

Full name	PLDT Home Fibr Hitters
Short name	PLDT
Nickname	Power Hitters
Founded	2013
Dissolved	2019
League	Philippine Super Liga (2013–2014) Spikers' Turf (2015–2017) Premier Volleyball League (2017–2018)
Uniforms
Home Away
Championships
Spikers' Turf: 1, MVP Olympics: 1, PSL: 2

History

The club debuted in 2013 with the women's team debuting first as the PLDT myDSL Speed Boosters women's team in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) during the 2013 Invitational Conference. The men's team would follow debuting in the following conference.

In 2014, while participating in the PSL, the club joined in the Shakey's V-League with its women's team as the PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters during the 2014 Open Conference.^[3]

The club ended its participation in the PSL after the 2014 season. In 2015, the club competed under the name PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters and the men's team joined the 2015 Open Conference of the Spikers' Turf,^[4] becoming its first champion.^[5]

The club became dormant in 2016 and 2017. It returned to active competition in 2018 in the Premier Volleyball League (formerly, Shakey's V-League and Spikers’ Turf) as the PayMaya High Flyers (women's) and the PLDT Home Fibr Ultra Fast Hitters (men's).^[6]

In September 2018, the women's team was merged with the Smart Prepaid Giga Hitters, its affiliate team in the PSL.^[7] The Smart team was renamed the PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters in February 2019.^[8]

Name changes

Season	Name
2013	PLDT myDSL Speed Boosters (PSL)
2014	PLDT Home TVolution-Air Force Power Attackers (PSL) PLDT Home Telpad-Air Force Turbo Boosters (PSL)
2015	PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters (Spikers' Turf)
2016–17	inactive
2018	PLDT Home Fibr Ultra Fast Hitters (PVL)
2019	PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters (PVL/Spikers' Turf)

Final roster

PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters
Number	Player	Position	Height
2	Richard Solis	Outside hitter
3	Patrick Vecina	Outside hitter	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
4	Ronjay Galang	Outside hitter	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
6	Ronchelle Lee Villegas	Setter
7	Jayvee Sumagaysay	Middle blocker	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
8	Mark Gil Alfafara	Opposite hitter	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
9	Paolo Pablico	Outside hitter	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
10	John Vic de Guzman (c)	Outside hitter	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
11	Joshua Umandal	Opposite hitter
12	Kris Cian Silang	Setter
15	Peter Quiel	Middle blocker
16	Kheeno Franco	Middle blocker	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
18	Gilbert Longevela	Libero	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
20	Henry James Pecaña	Libero	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)

Coaching staff

• Head coach:
  Arthur Alan "Odjie" Mámon
• Assistant coach:
  Rolando Casillan

Previous line-up

2018 Open Conference

Main article: 2018 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference PLDT Home Fibr Ultra Power Hitters Number Player Position Height 1 Mark Jethro Orian Middle blocker 3 Patrick Vecina Outside hitter 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 4 Henry James Pecaña (c) Opposite hitter 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 6 Ronchelle Lee Villegas Setter 7 Jayvee Sumagaysay Middle blocker 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 8 Mark Gil Alfafara Opposite hitter 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 9 Tyrone Jan Carodan Middle blocker 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 10 John Vic de Guzman Outside hitter 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 11 Joshua Umandal Opposite hitter 12 Rence Melgar Libero 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) 13 Joeven Dela Vega Outside hitter 15 Ronjay Galang Outside hitter 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 16 Kheeno Franco Middle blocker 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 17 Gilbert Longevela Libero 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Coaching staff Head coach: Arthur Alan "Odjie" Mámon Assistant coach: Rolando Casillan

2018 Reinforced Conference

Main article: 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference PLDT Home Fibr Ultra Power Hitters Number Player Position Height 1 Mark Jethro Orian Middle blocker 2 Harby Ilano Setter 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 3 Patrick Vecina 4 Henry James Pecaña Opposite hitter 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 6 Ronchelle Lee Villegas Setter 7 Jayvee Sumagaysay Middle blocker 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 8 Mark Gil Alfafara Opposite hitter 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 9 Tyrone Jan Carodan Outside hitter 10 John Vic de Guzman (c) Opposite hitter 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 11 Joshua Umandal Opposite hitter 12 Rence Melgar Libero 13 Joeven Dela Vega Middle blocker 15 Ronjay Galang Outside hitter 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 16 Kheeno Franco Middle blocker 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 17 Gilbert Longevela Libero 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Coaching staff Head coach: Arthur Allan "Odjie" Mámon Assistant coach: Jan Paul Doloiras

Honors

Team

Spikers' Turf/Premier Volleyball League:

Season	Conference	Title	Source
2015	Open	Champion	[9]
	Reinforced	3rd place
2016	Open	(did not compete)
	Reinforced
2017[a]	Reinforced
	Open
2018	Reinforced[a]	4th place
	Open	Runner-up	[10]
2019	Reinforced	3rd place	[11]
	Open	6th place

Philippine SuperLiga:

Season	Conference	Title	Source
2013	Grand Prix	Champion	[12][13]
2014	All-Filipino	Champion	[14]
	Grand Prix	Runner-up	[15]

Others:

Season	Tournament	Title	Source
2016	MVP Olympics	Champion	[16]

Individual

Spikers' Turf/Premier Volleyball League:

Season	Conference	Award	Name	Source
2015	Open	2nd Best Outside Spiker	John Paul Torres	[17]
		Best Opposite Spiker	Mark Gil Alfafara
		Finals MVP
	Reinforced	1st Best Middle Blocker	Peter Den Mar Torres
		1st Best Outside Spiker	Mark Gil Alfafara
		Conference MVP
2018	Reinforced[a]	Best Opposite Spiker	John Vic De Guzman	[18]
		Best Setter	Ronchette Lee Villegas
		Best Libero	Rence Melgar
	Open	Best Setter	Ronchette Lee Villegas	[19]
		2nd Best Middle Blocker	Jayvee Sumagaysay
2019	Reinforced	Best Opposite Spiker	John Vic De Guzman	[11]

Philippine Superliga:

Season	Conference	Award	Name	Source
2013	Grand Prix	Best Libero	Gilbert Longavilla
		Best Opposite	Henry Pecaña
		Best Setter	Rolando Casillan
		MVP	Kheeno Franco	[20]
2014	All-Filipino	Best Libero	Raffy Mosuela	[21]
		Best Setter	Jessie Lopez	[21]
		1st Best Outside Spiker	Alnakran Abdilla	[21]
		MVP		[21]
	Grand Prix	1st Best Outside Spiker	Alnakran Abdilla	[22]

Notes:

1. with the Premier Volleyball League.^[b]
2. Tarinay, Anna Reinette (October 3, 2018). "Spikers' Turf unwraps with Open Conference". BusinessMirror. Retrieved October 30, 2018.

Team captains

• Richard Gomez (2013)
• Dante Alinsunirin (2014)
• Ronaldo Casillan (2015)
• John Vic de Guzman (2018 Reinforced)
• Henry James Pecaña (2018 Open)

Head coach

• Arthur Allan “Odgie” Mamon

See also

• PLDT Home Fibr Hitters (women's team)
• PLDT Home TVolution (2014 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship team)
• Cignal HD Spikers (women's team)
• Cignal HD Spikers (men's team)

References

1. "PLDT rejoins Super Liga as eight teams battle for title in All-Filipino Conference". SPIN.PH. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
2. Lopez, Mark Edward (October 1, 2018). "PVL: Spikers' Turf returns, fires off on October 6". Fox Sports Philippines. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
3. Lozada, Mei-Lin (July 3, 2014). "Short-handed PLDT overpowers hapless UP Lady Maroons to join early leaders". website. Spin.ph. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
4. "8 teams take part in first Spikers' Turf men's volley tiff".
5. "PLDT Home defeats Cagayan Valley to rule inaugural Spikers' Turf".
6. Villar, Joey (3 January 2018). "PLDT returns to PVL". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
7. "PLDT rejoins Super Liga as eight teams battle for title in All-Filipino Conference". SPIN.PH. October 2, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
8. Zarate, Noel (February 12, 2019). "PSL Grand Prix Preview: The retooled PLDT Home FIBR". ESPN 5. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
9. Lozada, Mei-Lin (June 2, 2015). "PLDT Home defeats Cagayan Valley to rule inaugural Spikers' Turf". SPIN. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
10. "Agilas wins Spikers' Turf crown". Manila Bulletin. December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
11. Lozada, Bong (July 21, 2019). "Cignal sweeps Air Force for Spikers' Turf crown; Marck Espejo is Finals MVP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
12. Bracher, Jane (14 December 2013). "PLDT downs Systema to bag first PSL men's title". www.rappler.com. Rappler. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
13. Zarate, Noel. "PSL Grand Prix Championship Day: PLDT MyDSL outlasts Systema to cop men's title, TMS-Army captures second women's crown over Cignal". ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/sportztackle. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
14. Abcede, JP (26 July 2014). "PLDT-Air Force Accomplishes Sweep of PSL AFC men's division". website. philippinesuperliga.com. Philippine Super Liga. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
15. Abcede, JP (30 November 2014). "Cignal Pulls Rug on PLDT-Air Force, Claims Men's Division Championship". website. philippinesuperliga.com. Philippine Super Liga. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
16. Beltran, Nelson (March 6, 2016). "PLDT rules MVP Olympics". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
17. Lozada, Mei–Lin (June 2, 2015). "Marck Espejo wins MVP and first best spiker awards in Spikers Turf". Spin.ph. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
18. Escarlote, Mark (July 11, 2018). "PVL: Pablo, Espejo cop MVP honors". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
19. "Agilas snare S Turf crown, edge Power Hitters in 5". The Manila Times. December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
20. Bracher, Jane (14 December 2013). "PLDT downs Systema to bag first PSL men's title". www.rappler.com. Rappler. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
21. "All Filipino Conference Final Results". Philippine Super Liga. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
22. "Men's Individual Awardees". Philippine Super Liga. Retrieved 11 December 2014.