FOR Roselle Baliton, victory has always been a hard-fought prize.
Since her collegiate days with University of the East, wins were rare, and even after joining the PVL three years ago, success didn’t come easy.
The same goes with Galeries Tower, as it had only won six times in three years out of 58 games played prior to stunning Nxled on Thursday.
READ: Galeries Tower pulls rug from under BVS-led Nxled
The 6-foot middle blocker led the Highrisers with 16 points built on seven attacks, seven blocks, and two aces to mark her best professional performance yet.
But for her, the numbers tell only part of the story.
“Sobrang saya. Nakakaiyak dito," she told SPIN.ph, emotions clearly riding the roller-coaster after the huge upset.
“Sobrang saya sa pakiramdam. Kumbaga, gutom kami sa panalo. Ginusto lang talaga namin manalo at iangat naman ['yung team para] magkaroon ng winning culture."
What set this match apart? A heightened regard for preparation ahead of an imminent Chameleons storm.
“Malaking factor yung preparation sa training na gusto talaga namin ilabas sa game. Kasi, kung kinaya namin sa training, ilalabas namin 'yun sa game," she said.
On the rise
The 28-year-old middle also acknowledged Galeries' growth in this latest rebuild, with new teammates and a fresh system giving all of them a renewed sense of purpose.
“Gusto lang talaga namin na yung mga paghihirap namin sa training at yung mga dati namin na napagdaanan, kumbaga, it won't define us. Hindi na dapat yung dati, laging talo or celler-dweller, hanggang dun lang yung Galeries,” she shared.
Still, Baliton knows consistency will be key if the Highrisers, indeed, hope to have a winning culture.
As she put it, “Stick lang talaga sa system, stick lang sa kung paano kami kagutom sa panalo. Maging grounded lang din kami. Kung kinaya namin sa ganitong team, pwede namin ulitin o higitan pa namin."
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