PLDT tapped Rald Ricafort as the new head coach of the High Speed Hitters for the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
Ricafort spent the last four years with Petro Gazz, steering the Angels to the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference crown despite entering the final round as the third seed.
He is also the head coach of University of the Philippines’ men’s volleyball team and an assistant coach of the university’s women’s squad.
“We at PLDT are excited to work with a young champion coach in Coach Rald,” PLDT/SMART Head of Sports Jude Turcuato said. “We know he can guide our players to the next level.
The “youth movement” PLDT is about to embark on what led Ricafort to sign with the team.
“I’m very grateful to Petro Gazz in the four years that I spent there because I became the coach that I am today,” Ricafort said.
Also brought in by PLDT was Arnold Laniog, champion head coach of the College of Saint Benilde’s men’s volleyball team in Season 92 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Petro Gazz in the 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference.
He is also the De La Salle University Green Spikers head coach.
Ricafort replaced George Pascua, the head coach of PLDT during the 2022 season.
The High Speed Hitters finished fifth in the Open Conference, fourth in the Invitational Conference and sixth in the Reinforced Conference.