The 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference has been a season of struggle for Galeries Tower, marked by a heartbreaking 14-game losing streak that stretched all the way back to April 14.
But on December 14, at the Philsports Arena, the Highrisers were a set away from breaking their losing slump and securing a stunning victory over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
It was a moment of hope for the Highrisers, yet they faltered in the final stretch, unable to seal the win. That collapse left them with a single victory in six matches, concluding the year with a disappointing 4-18 record across the 2024 All-Filipino and Reinforced Conferences.
Despite their struggles, one player remains steadfast in her belief that growth is the silver lining: rookie setter Julia Coronel.
“I would say kahit nga na natatalo kami, but I’ve seen the growth of our team," Coronel said, reflecting on her rookie season. "I already see a lot of progress from how we started and even from last conference. That’s why I think it serves as motivation for us to keep pushing.”
For Coronel, whose first year with the Highrisers has been a challenging but rewarding journey, each loss is not just a setback but a stepping stone.
The young team, she believes, is evolving.
“Ako lagi ko lang din talagang pinagpa-pray na i-bless kami ni Lord with what we deserve, and dahil nga natatalo pa kami, maybe it’s something na hindi pa namin nagagawa or kailangan pa naming gawin,” she added. “Parang tiyatiyagain lang namin, and hopefully by next year, mas marami kaming makuhang panalo.”
However, Coronel’s focus is not solely on the numbers. It’s on the process, the lessons learned from each match, and the grit needed to overcome their growing pains.
Reflecting on their crushing losses, including a five-set heartbreaker to Chery Tiggo on December 14, and another against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on November 14, Coronel sees a common thread: the absence of a killer instinct in the crucial moments of the game.
"On my end, feeling ko naging nagkalamangan sa maturity. I would say mas naging mature and mas matibay ‘yung naging character nung Chery Tiggo lalo na nung bandang huli,” Coronel explained, referencing the Crossovers’ ability to close out games. “Which is something na dahil nga bago palang at bata din pa ‘yung team namin, parang ‘yun pa ‘yung winowork on namin.”
The absence of that finishing touch, she believes, is something the Highrisers must improve in order to turn close losses into hard-fought victories. "I think we committed 30 errors," Coronel said, pointing to self-inflicted mistakes.
"So kami-kami lang din ‘yung gumagawa nung errors na ‘yun. For us, these losses, kahit dikiit, parang lesson talaga siya. It just teaches us how to be better, how to be more mature with our decisions."
As Galeries Tower aims to bounce back from their struggles, Coronel is hopeful that the team's growth will be evident in the coming year.
The rookie playmaker remains positive about their journey, trusting that the lessons from their tough losses will be invaluable in shaping their future performances.
“We really have to make better decisions,” Coronel stressed, a sentiment that reflects her determination to see her team rise above their challenges.
The Highrisers will open the new year with a tough matchup against Cignal on January 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at the same Pasig venue.
For Coronel and her teammates, the hope is that with each match, they will continue to mature, become more resilient, and inch closer to the victories they’re hungry for.
