For years, the Galeries Tower Highrisers had been an afterthought in the Premier Volleyball League, a team that struggled to find its footing among the league’s powerhouses. But on Thursday night, they rewrote their story in dramatic fashion.
In one of the biggest upsets in PVL history, the 10th-seeded Highrisers shocked the third-seeded Cignal HD Spikers in four sets, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, during the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round. The victory not only shattered expectations but also secured Galeries’ first-ever playoff appearance—a milestone that left star libero Alyssa Eroa in tears.
As the final point was scored, Eroa collapsed into the arms of her teammates, overwhelmed by the emotions of a long, arduous journey.
“Parang ang dami-dami pong laro na puwedeng ipanalo, bakit ito pa ‘yung mas ginusto namin ipanalo. Marami po talaga kaming pinagdaanan,” she said, her voice trembling in the post-match press conference.
Galeries had been a fixture at the bottom of the standings since joining the league in 2023. Their past results painted a grim picture: 10th in the 2023 Second All-Filipino, 11th in the 2024 All-Filipino, and 10th again in the 2024 Reinforced Conference. They were a team accustomed to heartbreak, often falling short despite their efforts.
But on this night, they refused to be denied.
Against a battle-hardened Cignal squad, the Highrisers played with an edge, dictating the tempo and outworking their opponents on both ends of the floor. Their defense, anchored by Eroa, frustrated the HD Spikers’ offense. Their attacks, often doubted for lack of firepower, found their mark.
More than just a win, this was validation—proof that Galeries Tower belonged.
“Malalim po talaga ‘yung pinagdaanan namin kaya po ‘yung hugot namin sa laro na ito, binigay namin lahat,” Eroa continued, eyes still glistening with tears. “Sobrang emotional lang talaga kasi parang napakita namin sa mga tao, sa mga naniniwala sa amin, sa management, tsaka sa coaches na meron kaming mapatunayan.”
For Eroa, the reigning Reinforced Conference Best Libero, this triumph was deeply personal. She had always believed in the team, even when the results suggested otherwise.
“Umpisa pa lang po, hindi kaduda-duda ‘yung teammates or team namin. Talagang nandun ‘yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa pero ‘yun nga po, laging kinakapos sa dulo. Pero sobrang proud ako sa teammates ko tsaka coaches namin kasi nailaban namin itong qualifying round,” she said.
