Erika Raagas said the move to the Galeries Tower Highrisers has given her renewed motivation to prove she still has more to offer in the PVL.
Erika Raagas is entering a new chapter of her PVL career with extra motivation after joining the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
After moving on from the Akari Chargers, Raagas saw the opportunity to continue playing and prove she has more to offer at the professional level.
The former Ateneo standout added that the chance came at a time when she admited uncertainty about her future in the league.
“I'm super excited. This is an opportunity that I didn't expect to come along. So I'm excited, and I'm ready to grab this chance to play again on the court,” Raagas told One Sports.
Still with something to prove
While leaving Akari was not easy, Raagas said she remains grateful for the role her former team played in helping her establish herself in the pros.
“As much as I’m sad that I left my Akari family, I’m also very grateful and happy that they helped me start up my career in the pros,” she said.
“But I also feel like this was a chance for me to grow, a chance for me to show what I have in the PVL.”
Injuries limited Raagas’ minutes with the Chargers, leaving her watching from the sidelines. She admitted that this nearly led her to step away from the game.
But now that she’s with the Highrisers, Raagas is ready to prove herself once more on the taraflex.
“I feel like I still have a lot to show,” she said. “Now that I switched teams, I feel like this is a chance for me to really show what I've got.”
“I thought that I would be hanging up the jersey after last year, but I am so grateful to Galeries for taking a chance on me, and I'm excited to contribute to the team however I can.”
The 25-year-old spiker added that she has quickly adjusted to her new environment, describing the rebuilding Galeries Tower squad as a group driven by shared mindset.
“Everyone is easy to get along with every day. It’s serious, but also light,” Raagas shared. “Everyone has something to prove. We all come from different teams, and we all have reasons why we moved.”
Raagas and the rest of the Highrisers will be the first to take the court when they battle the Cignal Super Spikers in the All-Filipino Conference opener on Saturday, January 31.
—
Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.