PVL: Galeries Tower tallies first win in Cebu

The Galeries Tower Highrisers finally enter the win column in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference by beating the Capital1 Solar Spikers in a 26-24, 25-14, 25-23 sweep on Saturday, December 7, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex in Cebu.

Julia Coronel, the No. 3 overall pick in the inaugural draft, had her best game so far in the pro league as she produced nine points, highlighted by five service aces, including four straight at the start of Set 2. She also had 10 excellent sets.

Jewel Encarnacion, another Galeries rookie, put up a solid outing with 10 attack points to go with back-to-back 10-point showings from mainstay spikers Ysa Jimenez and Andrea Marzan.

Meanwhile, Leila Cruz, Coronel's former La Salle teammate, put up 14 markers and five digs that went for naught as Capital1 absorbed its fourth loss in five games.

The former DLSU captain finally won a game after failing to do so in their first four games. The win also broke the 10-game slump of the Solar Spikers since April.

In their Saturday match, Coronel brought out her effort in the young career that she has.

She also said that they worked hard as a team to get the victory.

“Tiyaga lang talaga. Tyinaga namin bawat puntos. We worked hard for every point and most importantly, we worked as a team. Winork-on namin ‘yung connection namin and we glad na na-translate namin ‘yun sa laro na ‘to,” she added.

Highrisers head coach Lerma Giron added: "Gumana ‘yung game plan namin. Talagang naging team players sila. Naging masunurin sila ngayon. They just enjoyed the game and they just enjoyed Cebu."

Galeries Tower will be gunning for their second straight victory against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Saturday, December 14 at the Philsports Arena.