PLDT’s Kiseo, Farm Fresh’s Abellana reflect on volleyball journeys

The journey from Cebu to the Premier Volleyball League is not an easy one. It takes grit, discipline, talent, and unwavering belief. For Shiela Kiseo and Pierre Abellana, that journey is now a reality. The two Cebuana standouts, who once started playing in local high school leagues, have grown into UAAP standouts in Manila and are now living their professional dreams in the PVL, the top flight of women’s volleyball in the Philippines.

Kiseo, a proud alumna of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), and Abellana, who honed her craft at the University of San Carlos (USC), were once rising stars in Cebu’s CESAFI scene. Both were scouted and recruited to the UAAP in Manila, with Kiseo joining Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws and Abellana committing to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses – two schools with storied volleyball programs in the UAAP, with a combined 45 championships in women’s volleyball: 29 for FEU, 16 for UST.

After their collegiate careers, they’ve now brought their skills to the professional ranks: Kiseo is playing for the PLDT High Speed Hitters, while Abellana is part of the young and developing Farm Fresh Foxies squad. For the two volleybelles from Cebu who turned PVL pros, the path wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

“Siguro one of the reasons talaga, at yung talagang kinakapitan ko kung bakit ako nandito ako ngayon,” shared Kiseo, reflecting on her climb from Cebu to the pros.

“Lagi ko lang tinatatak sa isip ko kung ano yung rason kung bakit sinimulan ko yung pagiging athlete ko – is yung experience namin sa buhay. Bilang isang nag-iisang anak, sobrang hirap, hindi po siya madali, kaya hindi ako sumusuko kahit mahirap yung mga na experience ko sa Manila.”

Abellana admitted that playing in the big leagues wasn’t always her main goal, especially during her early years in Cebu, but states she was ever grateful for this kind of opportunity to come.

“At the time when I was still playing here in Cebu, it wasn’t really in my vision to pursue the big leagues… Mas iniisip ko lang noon ang pag-improve ng skills ko sa training kasi parang imposible para sa akin na maabot ang ganitong level. Iniisip ko lang, kung para sa akin talaga, darating din ‘yan,” she explained. “Nag-training lang talaga ako nang may disiplina, determinasyon, at sipag hanggang dumating ang opportunity na mag-try out sa UST. At mula noon, tuloy-tuloy lang hanggang umabot ako sa PVL.”

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Finding their place in the pros

Now playing for PLDT, Kiseo has embraced her role as a spark plug – a source of energy and leadership inside the court.

“Yung ginagawa ko is tinatatak ko lang sa isip ko kung ano yung pwede kong maambag sa team,” Kiseo said. “Lalo na yung pagiging maingay ko, pagiging masayahing tao, and pagiging matapang ko sa loob ng court.”

For Abellana, her contributions may not always show up on stat sheets, but her job as a specialist is just as crucial, which she explains:

“As a pinch server for the team this time, I greatly take pride for it… Kahit parang simple lang sa paningin ng iba, mentally demanding talaga siya kasi I have to be efficient and consistent for a specific period of time,” she said. “Kahit na serve lang ako during specific rotations, malaki rin siyang tulong, lalo na sa pag-demoralize ng kalaban at pagsira ng first attack nila. Kaya kahit konti lang ang oras ko sa court, major contribution pa rin ‘yun for the team.”

Coming Home to Cebu

While many athletes dream of reaching the big stage, doing so with humble beginnings from a region often overshadowed by Metro Manila makes it even more meaningful. Both players take pride in where they came from, and that pride was on full display as the PVL brought its games to Cebu again this year for the PVL on Tour Cebu leg 2025.

“Sobrang grateful ako and blessed na andito ako ngayon,” Kiseo said. “Kasi dati, dito lang din ako naglalaro sa CESAFI. Dati din, yung pangarap ko, nanonood lang ako ng PVL, so sobrang blessed and honored ako.”

Abellana echoed the same emotions. “Nakaka-happy at fulfilling kasi masasabi ko talaga na, ‘hala, layo pa ako pero malayo-layo na rin pala ang narating ko,’” she shared. “Dati, hindi ko akalaing makakarating ako sa pros, pero pinatunayan ng hard work ko na posible pala. Nakikita ko ‘yung growth ko, kung sino ako ngayon kumpara sa dati.”

Playing in Cebu also brought a sense of pride and responsibility to represent where they came from.

“Wala akong masabi kung gaano ako ka-saya,” said Kiseo. “Na, sa lahat ng lugar, dito kami naglaro, kaya sobrang proud ako bilang Bisaya at bilang Cebuano. I just wanna say thank you sa supporta nyo mga Cebuanos, etong dinadala ko ngayon being a player of PLDT, this is for you. Hindi ako makakarating dito sa PLDT kung hindi din dahil sa inyo.”

For Abellana, it was also a rare chance to give back and play in front of familiar faces. “It means a lot kay hindi naman palaging may ganitong pagkakataon. And I get to represent my hometown rin.”

As if the homecoming couldn’t be more poetic, their former schools – USJ-R and USC – faced off in the inaugural V-League Visayas Finals, with Kiseo’s Jaguars emerging victorious.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud maging isang Jaguar ngayon na nag-champion ang USJ-R Women’s sa V-League,” Kiseo said. “Congrats sa inyo and congrats sa atin!”

Abellana also took pride in the exposure her alma mater is finally receiving. “Super proud kasi in the past, the Visayas leagues weren’t really given the same exposure as the ones in Luzon,” she said. “Now I’m happy na na-acknowledge na sa national stage ang volleyball program from both schools. At masaya ako na USC rin ay nasa podium.”

Seeing USJR and USC thrive at the national level gave both athletes a sense of pride, not just as alumni of both schools, but as Cebuanas who understand what the volleyball culture in the Visayas has always been capable of.

Growing the game in Visayas

With the PVL staging matches in Cebu and the V-League expanding to the Visayas, both players agreed that the sport’s visibility and impact has grown tremendously.

“Sobrang laki ng impact talaga ng PVL and V-League na pinadating nila dito sa Cebu,” Kiseo emphasized. “Kasi makikita ng mga fellow Cebuanos kung gaano talaga kalaki yung volleyball natin dito… Nawa’y mga kapwa kong Cebuanos ay mananatiling mangarap. Wag tayo sumuko kasi dadating din kayo kung nasaan ako ngayon – kaya nyo yan, kaya ko nga rin eh.”

Abellana added, “Firstly, both contribute to the advancement of the volleyball movement in the Visayas and in the country as well. Makikita ng mga players kung gaano ka-intense maglaro ang mga pros, ‘yung systems, skills, teamwork. Ma-aapply nila ‘yan sa sarili nilang teams, at makakatulong ‘yan sa grassroots level dito sa region. Yung V-League naman, nagbibigay ng exposure at chance sa mga players to compete at a higher level, lalo na sa mga wala masyadong ganitong oportunidad.”

From dreamers in Cebu to pros in the PVL, Kiseo and Abellana now stand as proof that discipline and heart can carry you anywhere. From the dusty courts of their high school gyms to the bright lights of pro arenas, their story is one of perseverance and regional pride. 

Their journey reminds everyone from the stands in Cebu to the volleyball courts all across the country, that the path to their dreams can begin anywhere. For Kiseo and Abellana, it began right here at home, and as they play on, they continue to inspire the next generation of Cebuano volleyball players chasing the very same dream.