Galeries Tower signs veteran spiker Aiza Maizo-Pontillas

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

One of the most decorated players in the PHL volleyball scene just found a new home.

On Jan. 12, 2026, the Galeries Tower Highrisers made a major offseason signing after inking Aiza Maizo-Pontillas to a deal to further strengthen their roster for the upcoming conference of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

Pontillas spent her last three playing years with the now-disbanded Petro Gazz Angels and is expected to bring valuable experience and locker-room leadership to the young, up-and-coming volleyball franchise.

Although Pontillas saw her playing time dip in the past couple of PVL conferences, the experienced opposite spiker can still produce anytime her number gets called; proof is her string of vintage performances during Petro Gazz’s title-clinching run in the last Reinforced Conference.

After a stellar UAAP career, Pontillas became a household name in the Shakey’s V-League tournament and became an eight-time champion.

Pontillas then dominated the PHL volleyball scene during the heydays of the now-defunct Philippine Super Liga (PSL), where she collected four championship titles.

The former University of Santo Tomas (UST) legend also won a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and was a five-time Best Opposite Spiker awardee.

After the PSL shut down, Pontillas brought her winning mentality to Petro Gazz, leading the squad to three PVL titles before the team decided to take a leave of absence.

Aside from Pontillas, Galeries also brought in a load of talent to boost its bid to advance to the playoffs, signing Shola Alvarez, Shar Ancheta and Erika Deloria.

Before them, Galeries already acquired the services of Cams Victoria, Dolly Versoza, Lycha Ebon, Juju Angeles, Erika Raagas and Blove Barbon to backstop its core of Julia Coronel, Jean Asis and Winnie Bedaña.

Can the Tower Highrisers finally break their PVL slump with the addition of Pontillas and the other new members?