The Galeries Tower Highrisers usher in a new era, as longtime assistant coach Godfrey Okumu takes over the reins as head coach after Lerma Giron's exit.
After years of serving as an assistant coach, Godfrey Okumu will now call the shots for the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the PVL, the team announced on Friday, August 22.
Okumu takes over from Lerma Giron, whose departure was confirmed earlier in the day.
“A familiar face. A trusted leader. Coach Godfrey Okumu returns to guide the Highrisers as head coach,” the club posted on social media.
The Kenyan tactician brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously called the shots for the UP Fighting Maroons from UAAP Seasons 80 to 84 as well as steering the Motolite Power Builders, which once featured stars like Tots Carlos, Myla Pablo, and Isa Molde.
Now at the helm of Galeries Tower, Okumu inherits a promising roster headlined by no. 2 pick Jean Asis, along with Julia Coronel, Jewel Encarnacion, France Ronquillo, and Ysa Jimenez.
The Highrisers are coming off a rough campaign in the PVL on Tour, finishing winless in the preliminaries before bowing out in the knockout round against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
Their best showing to date was an eighth-place finish in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, when they reached the quarterfinals.