Sports PH News | JS DEV Site

Tag: Erika Deloria

  • Erika Deloria lauded as proof players outside the UAAP and NCAA can make it to the PVL

    Erika Deloria lauded as proof players outside the UAAP and NCAA can make it to the PVL

    Galeries Tower Highrisers outside hitter Erika Deloria has proven that there is more than one path to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), and her journey is now serving as an inspiration for the next generation of players from Enderun Colleges.


    Unlike many of the league’s stars who emerged from traditional collegiate powerhouses in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Deloria carved her own path through Enderun’s volleyball program before earning a spot in the professional ranks.


    The versatile outside hitter was selected by the Chery Tiggo Crossovers with the 20th overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft. Although Chery Tiggo later ceased operations, Deloria remained in the league after being signed by the Galeries Tower Highrisers, where she has continued to showcase her potential at the professional level.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    For Enderun head coach Dong Dela Cruz, Deloria’s rise is proof that talent and hard work can open doors regardless of the school a player comes from. He hopes her success will motivate his current players to believe that they, too, can reach the PVL despite competing outside the country’s most prominent collegiate leagues.


    “That’s what I keep telling our players—that even if you are not from the UAAP or NCAA, it’s still possible to get drafted into the PVL. You can still build a volleyball career after college. I already saw her potential because Erika is a very talented player. She’s naturally quiet, so during her final year I made her team captain to help her find her voice and develop as a leader. I was really preparing her to get drafted into the PVL,” Dela Cruz said.


    According to Dela Cruz, Deloria’s growth extended well beyond her abilities on the volleyball court. While she developed into one of Enderun’s most dependable players, she also excelled academically, balancing the demands of collegiate athletics with outstanding classroom performance.


    The veteran coach said her achievements as both a student and an athlete make her an ideal role model for aspiring volleyball players.

    “I’m very proud of what she’s achieved. Erika isn’t just an excellent volleyball player—she also graduated magna cum laude. I know she will do well wherever she goes. She still has room to improve, but the most important thing is that she is making the most of the playing time she’s getting and showing everyone her talent,” he added.


    As Deloria continues to establish herself in the PVL, Enderun’s current squad is seeking to make its own mark in collegiate volleyball.


    The Lady Titans are currently competing in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals, where they have been given the opportunity to test themselves against some of the country’s top collegiate programs as well as international clubs from Vietnam and Australia.


    Although Enderun dropped its opening three matches of the tournament, the Lady Titans responded with an impressive straight-set victory over Ho Chi Minh City, 25-16, 29-27, 25-16, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, July 22.


    The victory provided a welcome confidence boost for the squad as it continues to gain valuable experience against stronger competition.


    For Dela Cruz, competing in the National Invitationals is about more than wins and losses. He believes the tournament offers his players an opportunity to accelerate their development while demonstrating that Enderun can compete with established volleyball programs.


    “Our goal is to gain experience by playing against some of the best NCAA and UAAP teams. This is a different level of competition. We will also be facing international teams from Vietnam and Australia, so it’s a great opportunity for us. This is the first time we will be competing at this level, and we also want to show everyone that Enderun Colleges has a good volleyball program,” Dela Cruz concluded.


    With Deloria already making her presence felt in the professional ranks, Enderun hopes her story will inspire more Lady Titans to chase their PVL dreams and prove that success is possible regardless of where their collegiate journey begins.

     

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans. 

  • Erika Deloria welcomes challenge of becoming Galeries Tower’s offensive leader after shining in debut

    Erika Deloria welcomes challenge of becoming Galeries Tower’s offensive leader after shining in debut

    The Galeries Tower Highrisers opened their 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour preseason conference campaign on a high note after overcoming the Farm Fresh Foxies in a thrilling five-set battle, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, on Saturday, July 11, at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum in Batangas City.

     

    The victory gave Galeries an ideal start to their preseason preparations as the team looks to build momentum following a historic breakthrough in the previous All-Filipino Conference. The Highrisers displayed composure in crucial moments, holding off Farm Fresh’s fightback and securing a hard-earned win against one of the league’s rising contenders.

     

    New acquisition Erika Deloria immediately made her presence felt in her first appearance for Galeries, delivering a standout performance that highlighted why the Highrisers were eager to add her to their roster. The versatile outside hitter led all scorers with 24 points while also contributing 13 excellent receptions and 10 digs, providing a significant impact on both offense and defense.

     

    OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

     

    Deloria’s all-around effort proved vital as Galeries relied on her consistency throughout the match, particularly in the deciding moments when Farm Fresh threatened to force another set. Her ability to produce points while remaining effective in the back row gave the Highrisers the balance they needed to secure the victory.

     

    After her impressive debut, Deloria embraced the responsibility of becoming one of Galeries Tower’s primary offensive options, viewing the increased expectations as both a challenge and an opportunity to grow as a player.

     

    “I treated it as both a challenge and an opportunity – for myself and for the team. More than anything, I was thinking about the team because I want us to win together. Whatever I can do to help, no matter how hard the training is, I will do it for the team,” Deloria said.

     

    The 25-year-old joined Galeries following the disbandment of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, where she was selected as the 20th overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft. After becoming available in free agency, Deloria found a new home with the Highrisers and immediately showed that she could be a valuable piece for a team aiming to continue its upward trajectory.

    For Deloria, earning a victory against Farm Fresh made her first game with Galeries even more meaningful, especially considering the Foxies’ status as one of the league’s competitive teams and the Highrisers’ desire to prove that their previous success was not a one-time achievement.

     

    “It’s really heartwarming because, as we all know, Farm Fresh is one of the contenders. We felt that all the hard work we put in during the offseason finally paid off. We just played with all our hearts. We had nothing to lose, and we simply showed how much we love volleyball,” she added.

     

    Galeries Tower head coach Aying Esteban also praised the team’s improved mindset and work ethic during training, highlighting the commitment shown by his players as they prepare for another challenging PVL campaign.

     

    Following the team’s semifinal appearance in the last All-Filipino Conference, Esteban believes the Highrisers have developed greater confidence and discipline, which were evident in their opening preseason match.

     

    “The biggest change has been their mentality, especially in training. I’m happy because they never get tired of the work we are asking them to do. I’m really grateful for their commitment and the effort they are putting in for the team,” Esteban stated.

     

    The preseason tournament serves as an important opportunity for teams to evaluate their progress, build chemistry, and integrate new additions ahead of the upcoming PVL season. For Galeries Tower, the emergence of Deloria as a key offensive weapon adds another dimension to a squad that has already shown it can compete with the league’s top teams.

     

    With their confidence boosted by a strong opening performance, the Highrisers will look to continue their positive start when Deloria, Esteban, and the rest of the squad return to action against the Nxled Chameleons on Saturday, August 1, in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

     

    Galeries Tower hopes their opening-day victory can serve as the foundation for another successful campaign as they continue their push to establish themselves among the PVL’s elite teams.

     

     

    👉 Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

    📌 Follow our Facebook page Sports PH News today and join the community of passionate sports fans.