Petrokimia Gresik, an Agroindustrial Solutions company and a member of the Pupuk Indonesia holding company, officially launched the women's volleyball team, Gresik Phonska Plus Pupuk Indonesia (GPPI), to welcome the prestigious 2026 Proliga competition. The team brought in a foreign coach, Alessandro Lodi from Italy, from the outset to improve on the previous year's Proliga.
Petrokimia Gresik President Director Daconi Khotob, at the GPPI Grand Launch in Gresik, East Java, on Tuesday (January 6, 2026), stated that this year was GPPI's best opportunity to win the Proliga championship after 23 seasons of participation. This was because the team had been very well prepared.
"During our time in the Proliga, we only achieved marginal success. We never won first place, only finished runner-up six times. This season is our best yet, aiming for first place," Daconi concluded.
He added that GPPI's readiness to win the Proliga title was enhanced by bringing in a foreign coach from the outset, further enhancing their preparations. GPPI trusts Alessandro Lodi as head coach. He has experience coaching volleyball clubs in other countries. Lodi has led several Asian clubs, giving him a deep understanding of Asian volleyball culture and the characteristics of the players. This experience has made the GPPI team's adaptation process quicker and more precise.
In preparation, GPPI is bolstered by top players, four of whom are national team players who will represent Indonesia at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Several other players are former national team players who are currently in their prime.
Daconi also explained that GPPI's strength also includes two competent and qualified foreign players: Oleksandra Bytsenko from Ukraine and Annie Mitchem from the USA. Both athletes have joined the team's regular training.
Oleksandra Bytsenko, also known as Sasha, has considerable experience and achievements in Southeast Asian volleyball competitions. She most recently played in the Philippines and made it into the "Top 5 Scorers" of the Philippines Volleyball League (PVL).
Sasha, in the 2023 Proliga, also joined Jakarta Pertamina Fastron and led the team to the Proliga Grand Final. Therefore, Sasha's individual skills are undeniable.
Meanwhile, Annie Mitchem also played in the PVL last season. Annie also played in the 2025 Proliga for Jakarta Livin Mandiri. Annie Mitchem has won numerous titles during her time as a professional volleyball player, from first place in the South American Club Championship to first place in the Brazil Superliga. With her extensive experience, Annie adds strength to GPPI's bid to win the 2026 Proliga.
"With the strength of the team and the support of Petrokimia Gresik, we are optimistic that GPPI can win," she concluded.
Meanwhile, regarding the target of winning the 2026 Proliga, it is considered a realistic goal. In the 2025 Proliga, the team successfully achieved third place. Furthermore, the team also achieved extraordinary achievements in 2025, including first place in the Livoli Premier Division and a hat-trick of Livoli Premier Division Champions.
"We hope this achievement, along with the support from Phonska Plus, Pupuk Indonesia, and the Petrokimia Gresik Group, will motivate and inspire all team members to go further and give their best. The 2026 Proliga is not just about competition, but also about championing the reputation of Gresik Phonska Plus Pupuk Indonesia in the national sports scene," he explained.
Meanwhile, Iwan Febrianto, Chairman of PBV Petrokimia Gresik, explained that his team has selected the best players to strengthen GPPI in the 2026 Proliga, including both domestic and foreign players with international experience and experience.
"We also recognize that regeneration is key to the team's continued success in the future. Therefore, this year we are giving several talented young players the opportunity to join the first team. They have demonstrated extraordinary potential during the selection and training process, and we believe they are ready to compete at the highest level," Iwan concluded.
He also hopes that in 2026, GPPI can achieve the highest honor, namely first place in the 2026 Proliga. Therefore, to achieve this target, his team is also collaborating with PBV Bank Jatim to form a team consisting of four players ready to compete for the 2026 Proliga title.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Gresik, and Advisor to PBVSI Gresik, Fandi Akhmad Yani, who was also present at the launch, expressed his support for the GPPI team competing in the 2026 Proliga. He hopes the team will emerge as champions, meeting the targets set by the management and the people of Gresik.
"We are supporting this team in the 2026 Proliga. Hopefully, we can win first place," he said briefly.
GPPI will participate in the 2026 Proliga from January 8th to December 2026. The tournament will be held on April 26, 2026, in 11 cities: Pontianak, Medan, Bandung, Gresik, Malang, Bojonegoro, Bogor, Surabaya, Solo, Semarang, and Yogyakarta. Seven volleyball teams will compete: Gresik Phonska Plus Pupuk Indonesia, Jakarta Pertamina Energi, Jakarta Elektrik PLN, Bandung Bank BJB Tandamata, Jakarta Popsivo Polwan, Jakarta Livin Mandiri, and Medan Falcons.
GPPI will also be trusted to host Rounds I and II of the 2026 Proliga, from January 29 to February 2, 2026.
Attachments
| File | Type | Size | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 SP Grand Launching GPPI Proliga 2026 FINAL | 151 KB | Download |
