Great teams require time to develop, and Capital1 Solar Energy President Mandy Romero recognizes this, granting her Premier Volleyball League (PVL) team a span of two to three years to pursue the ultimate prize.
“Great teams take time. We hope we can create a formidable team in the next two to three years and find diverse talents around the country and establish a culture to elevate our team,” said Romero. She co-owns the Power Spikers with her sister Milka. The team's press launch took place on Thursday, Jan. 25, at Milky Way Café in Makati.
The Capital1 Solar Energy Power Spikers, the 12th entrant into the highly regarded pro league, have ignited excitement in the hearts of the sisters as they embark on this new venture.
Milka Romero, who is also the director of the family-owned solar energy company, is eager to apply business principles to sports, aiming to instill discipline and teamwork. She, once a co-captain of the Ateneo football team in the UAAP, expressed a desire to contribute significantly to women’s sports, particularly in volleyball.
Similar to Milka, Mandy is a sports enthusiast, having been a former national team member in Muay Thai. The sisters, both daughters of former amateur basketball godfather and Partylist Congressman Mikee Romero, draw from their experiences as young athletes to manage the team effectively.
The elder Romero, however, emphasized that he will not interfere with his daughters' project. He remarked, “It’s their project; it’s time for them to help PH sports."
Having inherited a passion for winning from their father, the sisters, accompanied by assistant team manager Edwin Galvez, are excited to have secured the services of champion coach Roger Gorayeb.
Despite the short notice, Gorayeb, who acquired the team just last Saturday, Jan. 20, is determined to make the team competitive. He shared, “Mabilis lahat ng pangyayari (Everything happened quickly). Seventy-five tried out on the first day, and more than 50 in the next. Now, we have 23 players in the pool. We will trim down to 20. I will bring my experience to this team, and I feel the interest of Milka and Mandy aligns with our vision.”
Among the players Gorayeb selected are Jorelle Singh, Aiko Urdas, Jannine Navarro, Heather Guino-o, and Rovie Instrella.
PVL President Ricky Palou and chair Tonyboy Liao welcomed Capital1’s entry to the league enthusiastically. Palou expressed his excitement, stating, “We’re excited to have Capital1 in the PVL; we expect them to bring a lot of excitement to the league.”
The Romero siblings emphasized that they are undaunted by the lack of time to prepare, viewing it as an opportunity to shine. They remarked, “We take that short notice as momentum that we could build a team that we could adjust quickly and go from there. One step at a time, we want to win; that’s why everybody’s here.”
