LERMA Giron had to make the most of the building blocks she was dealt back in 2023 to make a young Galeries Tower believe that it can live up to its name as Highrisers.
By taking down title protagonist Cignal in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round, Giron’s rather unpopular coaching mantra was vindicated — stars don’t make a team.
READ: Galeries Tower shocks Cignal to get outright PVL quarters spot
“Since day 1 na nag-start (‘yung Galeries Tower), nandu’n 'yung tiwala ko sa mga players na kinuha ko, kung anong meron kami, even though we don't have those big names, stars sa volleyball,” the Highrisers coach said.
That’s not to say Galeries Tower doesn’t have a star at all.
If any, they have newly-minted best libero Alyssa Eroa as the captain of the Highrisers’ ship along with rising stars Julia Coronel, France Ronquillo and Ysa Jimenez among others.
Even if their main ‘star’ isn’t necessarily a scoring player, having a young team with nothing to lose and everything to gain has been the Highrisers’ single-most important edge.
“Kahit sabihin natin na 'yung pinaka-ace player namin ay non-scoring, pero 'pag team effort talaga, (nagagawa namin) 'yung pinaka-goal talaga namin na maglaro as a team,” said Giron.
“Ever since na nag-start ang Galeries, naniniwala ako du’n sa mga players, sa sistema at sa mga coaches, na nandun sa Galeries.”
Just like their franchise’s first win two years ago against a now-defunct Gerflor side, trusting the process is, has and always been the battlecry Giron has held on to even if results don’t always go their way.
“Naniniwala ako na ang proseso, 'di biglaan. Parang nu’ng unang panalo rin yata namin against Gerflor, 'yun din sinabi ko, proseso. ‘Yung mga nangyari sa 'min, part ng proseso,” said Giron.
“Nu’ng mga nakaraan, laging muntik lang, kulang, kasi 'di pa kami buo. Pero this time, nakikita ko sa players, even sa coaching staff, malayo pa kami sa perfection at sa pinakamataas na aspeto, pero andun na 'yung unity, sabihin natin, team na matatawag talaga.
“Dati, we're playing with different purpose, with the players and the coaches. But this time, parang naging isa 'yung daan namin, naging isa 'yung agos namin, naging one page kami.”
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