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Tag: Galeries Tower Highrisers

  • “We can work even harder”: Julia Coronel eyes deeper PVL run after Highrisers’ big win

    “We can work even harder”: Julia Coronel eyes deeper PVL run after Highrisers’ big win

    The Galeries Tower Highrisers delivered a historic performance, pulling off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference history with a dominant 25-16, 25-20, 30-28 victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers on Tuesday, March 24, at the FilOil Centre.

     

    With their backs against the wall in the Play-In stage, the Highrisers rose to the occasion and showcased poise, execution, and composure—qualities that had eluded them in previous close matches. The straight-sets triumph not only secured their survival in the tournament but also signaled their intent to go deeper than their previous quarterfinal finish.

     

    Leading the charge was Jean Asis, who turned in a standout all-around performance. The dynamic attacker finished with 17 points, highlighted by three blocks and two service aces, earning Best Player of the Game honors. Her ability to deliver in crucial stretches, especially in the tightly contested third set, proved vital in sealing the win.

     

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    Running the offense with precision was rookie playmaker Julia Coronel, who tallied 22 excellent sets in orchestrating the Highrisers’ attack. The third overall pick in the 2024 PVL Rookie Draft displayed maturity beyond her years, distributing the ball efficiently and keeping the Solar Spikers’ defense guessing throughout the match.

     

    Gayle Pascual provided steady scoring support with 14 points, while Aiza Pontillas and Roselle Baliton added 12 and 11 points, respectively. The balanced offensive effort underscored Galeries Tower’s improved chemistry and depth—key factors in their breakthrough performance.

    After the match, Coronel expressed both pride and renewed determination, emphasizing the team’s desire to surpass their previous campaign.

     

    “I’m very proud of the team, and I feel even more motivated. The last time we reached the quarterfinals, we didn’t make it to the next round. This time, I’m hopeful that we can work even harder in the next few days to prepare. Hopefully, God will bless us with a win in the next game,” Coronel said in the postmatch press conference.

     

    The Highrisers’ growth was particularly evident in the third set, where they weathered a fierce challenge from the Solar Spikers. After building a two-set advantage, Galeries Tower found themselves locked in a tense extended frame, but this time, they showed composure in crunch time—an area that had previously been a weakness.

     

    Coronel acknowledged this improvement, noting how the team finally managed to overcome its struggles in closing out tight games.

     

    “It’s frustrating when we lose games we know we could have won. We have always been competitive, but we tend to fall short in the endgame. So I’m really happy that today, we fought through it because the endgame was crucial and this time, we got it done,” she added.

     

    With momentum on their side, the Highrisers now turn their attention to another high-stakes showdown against the Nxled Chameleons on Saturday, March 28, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. A semifinal berth hangs in the balance, and Galeries Tower will look to build on their confidence and newfound composure as they continue their campaign.

     

    For the Highrisers, this breakthrough victory represents more than just survival—it is a statement of growth, resilience, and belief that they can finally push past previous limitations and contend with the league’s best when it matters most.

     

     

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  • Galeries Tower, Choco Mucho keep seasons alive as PVL Play-In pressure produces breakthrough performances

    Galeries Tower, Choco Mucho keep seasons alive as PVL Play-In pressure produces breakthrough performances

    Survival, not seeding, has become the true currency in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Play-In on Tuesday as two teams proved they have plenty left to spend.


    At the FilOil Centre in San Juan, the postseason’s backdoor route turned into a stage for reinvention. Lower-ranked squads, once on the brink of elimination, flipped the narrative and showed that momentum can outweigh rankings when everything is on the line.

     

    The biggest statement came from Galeries Tower, the No. 9 seed that refused to play like an underdog. Facing a higher-ranked Capital1 side, the Highrisers swept their way to a 25-16, 25-20, 30-28 victory.

     

    Galeries leaned on collective firepower and cohesion. Their system clicked at the right time, with multiple scoring options stretching Capital1’s defense thin. The result was a composed, confident performance that looked more like a team peaking than one merely trying to survive.

     

    Meanwhile, Capital1’s star player Bella Belen once again carried the offensive load with 21 points, but with no other player reaching double digits, the imbalance proved costly in a win-or-go-home scenario. The victory sends Galeries into a tougher test against the NXLed Chameleons.

     

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    If Galeries’ win was about control, Choco Mucho’s triumph in the nightcap was about resilience. Dragged into a grueling five-set duel by ZUS Coffee, the Flying Titans had to rediscover their rhythm multiple times before pulling off a 21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 15-11 escape. 

     

    The match unfolded like a test of endurance, with momentum swinging wildly before Choco Mucho found its footing when it mattered most.

     

    Sisi Rondina once again proved to be the heartbeat of the team, delivering a near all-around masterpiece with 27 points alongside heavy defensive contributions. While Maddie Madayag, Eya Laure, Kat Tolentino, and Deanna Wong all played crucial roles, giving the squad a more complete shape at the perfect time.

     

    For ZUS Coffee, the loss marked the end of a difficult campaign. Despite flashes of promise from Riza Nogales and Thea Gagate, consistency remained elusive throughout the tournamen.

     

    As the Play-Ins progress, the stakes only get higher—but so does the level of belief for the teams still standing.

     

    Galeries Tower now heads into its next matchup with growing confidence, while Choco Mucho prepares for a showdown against the Akari Chargers with renewed chemistry.

     

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  • PVL Play-In Begins: Six teams fight for Final Four spots

    PVL Play-In Begins: Six teams fight for Final Four spots

    The long grind of the preliminaries has officially lost its value. What once separated contenders from pretenders now carries little weight as the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference shifts into its most unforgiving phase.

     

    The Play-In stage opens not as a continuation of the standings, but as a reset—one where reputations are tested, not protected. Six teams step into a format that strips away comfort and demands immediacy, where every rally can tilt the fate of an entire campaign.

     

    In this environment, there is no room for what came before.

     

    Recent wins, like those secured by the Capital1 Solar Spikers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, offer no guarantees. If anything, they serve as reminders of how thin the margins are. Capital1 needed to fend off a determined push from the Galeries Tower Highrisers, while Choco Mucho handled the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in four sets—but both results came in matches where momentum could have easily swung the other way.

     

    That uncertainty now becomes the defining theme. Capital1 continues to draw strength from Bella Belen, whose scoring touch has returned at the right time. Yet even her presence doesn’t eliminate the threat posed by Galeries Tower, a team that has shown enough depth and balance to turn a close match into an upset with just a few cleaner sequences.

     

    “Well, of course they will study us and we have to do the same. And since the game is really on Tuesday, the first part is study and rest. But you know they have a lot of potential to be explored on the other side. 

     

    So we’re gonna see what we can counter attack. But for sure, it’s time to go,” said Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito after the Solar Spikers subdued the Highrisers last Saturday.

     

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    On the other side, Choco Mucho brings star power and offensive firepower led by Sisi Rondina, but the unpredictability of ZUS Coffee lingers as a dangerous variable. In knockout settings, structure can quickly give way to chaos—and teams that embrace that chaos often find ways to extend their run.

     

    “Sa panalo na to, syempre sobrang ganda para samin. Extra motivation para sa paghaharap namin ulit sa kanila, mas may dala-dala at may paghuhugutan kami na kaya namin dominahin sila ngayong game,” said Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin.

     

    “At yun pa, kung ano pa yung pwede naming adjustment para sa game, siguro gagawin namin sa training,” he added.

     

    The structure of the Play-In only amplifies the pressure. Survive one knockout match, and another immediately follows. There is no easing into rhythm, no time to recover. Each win simply earns the right to face a fresher, waiting opponent.

     

    The winners of the opening clashes will move forward to face higher-seeded teams, with either Capital1 or Galeries Tower set to take on the Nxled Chameleons, and either Choco Mucho or ZUS Coffee advancing to meet the Akari Power Chargers. Only after navigating that gauntlet will a team secure a crack at the final semifinal berths.

     

    Waiting ahead are the league’s top four: the PLDT High Speed Hitters, Cignal HD Spikers, Creamline Cool Smashers, and Farm Fresh Foxies, who will battle separately for outright Final Four spots. Even then, nothing is settled—the losers of those matchups will drop into another sudden-death encounter against the Play-In survivors.

     

    It creates a layered postseason where advantage exists, but safety does not.

    For teams emerging from the Play-In, the path is undeniably harder, but it also forges something different. They arrive battle-tested, sharpened by pressure, and accustomed to playing with everything on the line.

     

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  •  ZUS, Galeries, Capital1 lock In first PVL All-Filipino Play-In tournament spots

     ZUS, Galeries, Capital1 lock In first PVL All-Filipino Play-In tournament spots

    The race for survival in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference has begun to take shape, with Capital1 Solar Spikers, Galeries Tower Highrisers, and ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles officially dropping into the play-in tournament after uneven runs in the preliminaries.  

     

    Capital1 became the latest team to slide into the next phase following a crucial sequence of results in Sta. Rosa, where victories by Akari Chargers and Farm Fresh Foxies tightened the standings and effectively pushed the Solar Spikers out of Top Four contention. 

     

    Sitting at 3-5, Capital1 showed flashes of promise early in the conference but struggled to sustain momentum against the league’s top contenders.

     

    Their campaign opened with a strong four-set win over ZUS Coffee, highlighted by a breakout showing from their young core, but the team soon ran into consistency issues. Losses to Nxled Chameleons, PLDT High Speed Hitters, and powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers exposed gaps in execution, particularly in closing sets and maintaining scoring balance.

     

    Galeries Tower, meanwhile, saw its campaign unravel after an encouraging early stretch. The Highrisers pulled off a notable upset against Nxled and even snapped a long losing skid with a gritty win over ZUS Coffee, signaling a potential turnaround.

     

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    However, consistency remained elusive. Heavy defeats — including a dominant straight-sets loss to Farm Fresh (25-14, 25-15, 25-12) — and a growing string of setbacks dragged Galeries to a 2-6 record, ultimately sealing its place in the play-in round.

     

    For ZUS Coffee, the story has been one of early promise followed by a prolonged slide. The Thunderbelles managed a morale-boosting five-set victory over Akari early in the conference, but that spark quickly faded as losses piled up against stronger, more cohesive teams.

     

    Straight-set defeats to Farm Fresh and Cignal, along with multiple lopsided results, underscored their struggles in both offense and floor defense. A young roster reinforced by veterans has yet to find the right balance, leaving ZUS at 1-7 and firmly anchored in the play-in bracket.

     

    With the play-in stage looming, all three teams now face a reset. The format offers a second life, but also demands urgency, as only a limited number of squads will advance to challenge the higher-ranked teams for semifinal spots.

     

    For Capital1, Galeries, and ZUS Coffee, the margin for error has disappeared — and the fight to extend their season is only just beginning.

     

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  • PLDT claims solo PVL lead as Farm Fresh outlasts Choco Mucho in five-set battle

    PLDT claims solo PVL lead as Farm Fresh outlasts Choco Mucho in five-set battle

    Two matches, two very different stories unfolded Tuesday night in the PVL All-Filipino Conference, but both carried major implications for the league standings.


    At the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City, the PLDT High Speed Hitters continued their steady climb toward the top of the leaderboard, while Farm Fresh finally found redemption in a tense five-set battle against Choco Mucho.

     

    The High Speed Hitters showed their composure and firepower in sweeping Galeries Tower, 25-18, 25-22, 25-17, a victory that propelled them to the solo lead in the standings with a 6-1 record. The win allowed PLDT to move ahead of sister team Cignal and strengthen its case as one of the early favorites in the tournament.

     

    The result also extended PLDT’s current momentum, marking their third consecutive victory since their earlier three-game winning streak was snapped by Cignal in a three-set defeat.

     

    Savannah Davison spearheaded the charge with 21 points, consistently delivering on offense whenever Galeries Tower attempted to close the gap. Mika Reyes added 10 markers, while Malaluan chipped in nine to round out a balanced attack that kept the Highrisers on the defensive throughout the match.

     

    For Galeries Tower, the loss deepened a rough stretch in their campaign. The Highrisers slipped to their third straight defeat since their upset win against Nxled on Feb. 19, leaving them ninth in the 10-team standings with a 2-5 record.

     

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    Jean Asis led Galeries Tower with nine points, but the team struggled to generate consistent scoring as no player managed to reach double digits. Gayle Pascual finished with eight markers, while Aiza Pontillas and Erika Deloria contributed seven points each.

     

    If the first match was about control, the second game was all about survival.

     

    Farm Fresh and Choco Mucho engaged in a gripping back-and-forth contest that stretched the evening into a dramatic fifth set. After trading momentum through the first four frames, the Foxies surged late to claim a hard-earned 21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-18, 15-9 victory.

     

    In recent weeks, the Foxies had been on the wrong end of grueling marathon matches, falling short against Capital1 and PLDT. This time, however, the team finally broke through, showing the poise that had previously eluded them in extended battles.

     

    Molina led the effort with 17 points while delivering an all-around performance that included 13 digs and 13 receptions to complete a triple-double. Tubino added 14 points, while Riri Meneses contributed 10, including two crucial blocks that helped steady Farm Fresh during pivotal stretches.

     

    Their combined efforts gave the Foxies the late push they needed to seal the deciding set and snap their frustrating run in tight contests.

     

    Choco Mucho, meanwhile, leaned heavily on its offensive stars in the tough defeat. Kat Tolentino and Cherry Ann Rondina both delivered 22 points for the Flying Titans, while Laure contributed 15 points in an on-and-off appearance. Lorraine Pecana and Des Cheng added seven and six markers, respectively.

     

    Despite the strong scoring output, the Flying Titans could not hold off Farm Fresh’s late surge in the deciding set.

     

    By the end of the night, the standings had shifted and narratives had changed. PLDT walked away firmly planted at the top of the league, while Farm Fresh left the court with renewed confidence after finally conquering a five-set battle.

     

     

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  • PVL: Creamline to face upbeat Galeries Towers, as Nxled looks to rebound against rejuvenated Choco Mucho 

    PVL: Creamline to face upbeat Galeries Towers, as Nxled looks to rebound against rejuvenated Choco Mucho 

    Momentum in the Premier Volleyball League can be as fleeting as a single bad rotation.

     

    Just ask Creamline Cool Smashers, after stumbling early, the perennial contenders have rediscovered their rhythm, stacking three straight wins to reassert themselves in the thick of the All-Filipino Conference semifinal chase. Their offense has flowed cleaner, their defense has stiffened, and the aura that once made them the league’s standard bearer has quietly returned.

     

    But Tuesday offers no guarantees. Across the net stands Galeries Tower Highrisers — a team that has made unpredictability its calling card. Win, loss, win, loss — through five games, the Highrisers have refused to settle into a pattern. That volatility makes them dangerous, especially in a tournament where momentum shifts faster than the scoreboard can keep up.

     

    Creamline enters the 6:30 p.m. duel as the slight favorite, a status earned after emphatic responses to adversity. Following a straight-sets defeat to PLDT High Speed Hitters, the Cool Smashers bounced back with statement wins over Choco Mucho Flying Titans and ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in four sets, then flexed their depth in a sweep of Capital1 Solar Spikers.

     

    Yet labels mean little in this conference, Galeries Tower nearly carved out consecutive victories before letting a 2-1 set edge slip away against Choco Mucho in a five-set heartbreaker. 

     

    The Highrisers have shown they can ride the hot hands of Erika Deloria, Jean Asis and Gayle Pascual, while Aiza Pontillas and Roselle Baliton steady the floor and setter Julia Coronel orchestrates the offense. Their issue hasn’t been talent — it has been finishing.

     

    Creamline, by contrast, has leaned into its depth. Tots Carlos continues to be a reliable scoring outlet, Jema Galanza and Bernadette Pons bring balance on the wings, and the middle duo of Pangs Panaga and Bea de Leon fortify the net. The Cool Smashers are not overpowering opponents — they are outlasting them.

     

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    Still, head coach Sherwin Meneses knows better than to exhale too soon.

     

    “Malaking tulong ‘yung last game namin ngayon kasi medyo dikit siya. Ayun napagusapan nga namin sa team na kailangan namin i-sure ‘yung game ngayon kasi after this, magiging maganda ‘yung situation namin,” he said.

     

    “Knowing Galeries naman, talagang hindi ka rin pwede magpahinga or magbalewala kasi kita niyo naman ‘yung performance nila,” he added.

     

    If the main event promises tension, the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser carries just as much urgency.

     

    Choco Mucho (2-3) is attempting to stabilize after an uneven start. The return of Eya Laure — who poured in 18 points after recovering from a groin and abdominal strain — injected life into a squad that had dropped three straight. Her presence alone reshapes their attack and revives belief.

     

    Waiting on the other side is Nxled Chameleons, a team trying to rediscover the sharp edge that fueled a 3-0 opening surge. Consecutive four-set defeats to Galeries Tower and Akari Chargers have exposed lapses in cohesion. Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips remain productive, but the Chameleons’ early-season fluidity has dulled.

     

    Four weeks into the preliminaries, one theme dominates the All-Filipino Conference: no cushion is comfortable, and no reputation guarantees control. Leads evaporate. Runs reverse. Favorites wobble.

     

    In a race this tight, the margin between contender and casualty might come down to a single service error, a single block touch — or a single lapse in focus.

     

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  • Choco Mucho regains form for second win after five-set thriller against Galeries Towers

    Choco Mucho regains form for second win after five-set thriller against Galeries Towers

    Momentum had been hard to find for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in recent outings, but on Thursday night, persistence finally paid off.

     

    With composure tested and energy stretched across five sets, Choco Mucho battled its way to a dramatic 26-24, 20-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12 victory over the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the Premier Volleyball League 2026 All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

     

    Rather than a smooth breakthrough, the win came through tension-filled stretches and shifting momentum—exactly the kind of response the Flying Titans needed after dropping three straight matches.

     

    The turning point began in the deciding set, when Choco Mucho found itself trailing 5-8. Instead of forcing plays, the Flying Titans leaned on controlled execution and defensive discipline to chip away at the deficit. A quick scoring burst flipped the pressure to Galeries Tower, and from there, the match slowly tilted in Choco Mucho’s favor.

     

    The contest ended in an unusual fashion, as a net touch violation on Gayle Pascual during a live rally handed the final point—and the long-awaited relief—to the Flying Titans.

     

    The victory also marked the return of Eya Laure, whose presence stabilized the team’s offensive rhythm after missing two matches due to a minor leg injury. Laure finished with 18 points and seven receptions, gradually building her impact after a quiet start.

     

    “Lagi ko namang sinasabi kina ate [Sisi] kanina na pinaghirapan na naming makaabot ng fifth set so trabahuin na namin at i-keep namin ‘yung hustle na magtulungan sa isa’t isa,” said Laure.

     

    Choco Mucho initially looked in control early behind the clutch plays of team captain Des Cheng, who delivered timely attacks and service pressure in the opening frame. But Galeries Tower refused to fade, countering with improved floor defense and transition scoring in the next two sets.

     

    Erika Deloria and Jean Asis powered the Highrisers’ mid-match surge, exploiting scoring gaps to seize a two-sets-to-one advantage.

     

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    Facing another potential setback, the Flying Titans responded with their most dominant stretch of the match in the fourth set. Anchored by sharper passing and faster offensive tempo, Choco Mucho unleashed a massive run that forced a decider and completely reset the match’s energy.

     

    In the fifth set, the Flying Titans leaned on their veteran core. Sisi Rondina delivered an all-around performance with 18 points, 13 digs, and 11 receptions, while Lorraine Pecaña provided crucial scoring balance with 15 points highlighted by strong net defense and service pressure. Additional support came from Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Kat Tolentino as Choco Mucho maintained control late.

     

    Costly service errors from the Deloria-Asis combination ultimately opened the door for the Flying Titans to close out the match.

     

    With the result, both teams now sit at 2-3 in the standings—still searching for consistency, but for Choco Mucho, finally rediscovering belief after a hard-earned escape.

     

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  • Galeries’ Roselle Baliton named PVL Player of the Week for February 17 to 21

    Galeries’ Roselle Baliton named PVL Player of the Week for February 17 to 21

    The Galeries Tower Highrisers have opened their campaign in the Premier Volleyball League 2026 All-Filipino Conference with mixed results, splitting their first four matches to sit sixth in the team standings.

     

    After alternating wins and losses to begin the tournament, the Highrisers showed signs of cohesion and growth in their latest outing, securing a four-set victory over the Nxled Chameleons, 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, February 19. The win not only evened their record at 2-2 but also offered a glimpse of the identity the revamped squad is trying to build this season.

     

    At the heart of the triumph was veteran middle blocker Roselle Baliton, who delivered a commanding two-way performance. Baliton tallied 16 points built on seven attacks, seven blocks, and two service aces — anchoring the Highrisers both offensively and defensively. Her presence at the net disrupted Nxled’s rhythm, while her timely hits provided stability whenever momentum threatened to shift.

     

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    Baliton has emerged as a cornerstone for Galeries, especially after management opted for a sweeping roster overhaul in the offseason. One of the few holdovers from the previous campaign, the 29-year-old has embraced a leadership role, helping integrate new pieces while setting the standard with her work ethic and consistency.

    Her standout performance earned league-wide recognition. Baliton was named PVL Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of February 17 to 21, besting a competitive field that included Jia De Guzman of the Creamline Cool Smashers, Bella Belen of the Capital1 Solar Spikers, Majoy Baron of the PLDT High Speed Hitters, and Trisha Tubu of the Farm Fresh Foxies for the weekly citation awarded by reporters covering the country’s premier professional volleyball league.

     

    “Sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Kumbaga, ang dami ng pinagdaanan ng team, and kumbaga, start din ‘to ng magkaroon ng winning culture ‘yung team kasi nga for the longest time, maraming napagdaanan ‘yung team. Napatunayan din namin na kung ano ‘yung pinapakita namin sa training, lumalabas din,” Baliton said in a media interaction.

     

    For Baliton, the victory was more than just a tally in the win column. It represented validation of the team’s preparation and a potential turning point in cultivating a stronger competitive mindset.

    “Team effort talaga siya. So, doon namin tinitingnan kung ano talaga yung kayang ibigay ng team na kapag nagtulong-tulong, nagsasabay-sabay na trabaho, lumalabas talaga na kaya naman talaga. Ika nga, bilog ang bola, so ayun, laban lang,” she added.

     

    The Highrisers’ recent performance suggests a squad gradually finding its rhythm. With improved floor defense, sharper rotations, and more consistent execution in crunch time, Galeries appears intent on transforming early-season inconsistency into sustained momentum.

     

    Baliton will look to sustain her impressive form when Galeries faces another stern test against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday, February 26, once again at the FilOil EcoOil Centre. The matchup presents an opportunity for the Highrisers not only to climb the standings but also to further solidify the winning culture they are striving to build in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

     

     

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  • Roselle Baliton sparks Galeries Tower breakthrough in stunning upset of Nxled

    Roselle Baliton sparks Galeries Tower breakthrough in stunning upset of Nxled

    A signature win often arrives when a team needs belief the most—and for Galeries Tower Highrisers, that moment came behind the breakout performance of Roselle Baliton.


    Unshaken by the firepower of the previously surging Nxled Chameleons, Baliton turned the net into her territory, powering the Highrisers to a statement 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21 victory Thursday night in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

     

    More than just an upset, the win hinted at a culture shift for a franchise long searching for consistency.

     

    Baliton anchored the defensive stand with seven kill blocks—part of a balanced stat line that included seven attacks and two aces in the one-hour, 53-minute battle that pushed Galeries Tower to a 2-2 record, keeping them within reach of their best elimination-round finish.

     

    “Ika nga, bilog ang bola, so ayun, laban lang,” said the 6-foot middle blocker after the win.

    For a player who has stayed with the team through rebuilding stretches and difficult losses, the performance carried deeper meaning than the numbers.

     

    Despite her standout showing, Baliton emphasized that the victory reflected collective growth rather than individual output.

     

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    “Ang ano naman, kumbaga team effort siya. So, doon kami nagtindig na namin na kung ano talaga yung kayang ibigay ng team na kapag nagtulong-tulong, nagsasabay-sabay na mga lumalagas talaga na kaya naman talaga,” she said.

     

    The Highrisers’ energy at the net disrupted Nxled’s rhythm throughout the match, turning what was expected to be a straightforward outing into a disciplined defensive showcase.

     

    Baliton admitted the result felt especially rewarding after nearly two years of grinding through setbacks with the squad.

     

    “Sobrang ano, sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Kumbaga, ang dami ng pinagdaanan ng team and kumbaga, start din ‘to ng magkaroon ng winning culture ‘yung team kasi nga for the longest time, maraming napagdaanan ‘yung team,” she said.

     

    “So kumbaga napapatunayan din namin na kung ano ‘yung pinapakita namin sa training, lumalabas din.”

     

    The victory also reflected the system-first approach the team has been steadily building under a revamped roster and coaching structure.

     

    “Kumbaga, talagang bini-build namin ‘yun paunti-unti sa training, nagsa-start sa training. ‘Yun din, most of our teammates bago na, lahat ng coaches, ganun din,” said Baliton, a product of University of the East.

     

    “Nag-stick lang din kami [sa system] or kung nawawala ‘man, bumabalik lang din kami dun sa kung ano ‘yung mga tinuturo sa training po.”

     

    While the standings remain tight and the road ahead uncertain, Galeries Tower now carries something far more valuable than momentum—a reminder that their progress is beginning to translate into results.

     

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  • Julia Coronel ends a 345-day wait with Galeries Tower breakthrough

    Julia Coronel ends a 345-day wait with Galeries Tower breakthrough

    For 345 days, Julia Coronel carried more than just the ball for Galeries Tower—she carried the weight of a franchise stuck in neutral.

     

    Loss after loss blurred into routine, even as the Highrisers tore everything down in the offseason. A new coaching staff. A near-total roster overhaul. Fresh promises that required patience. Through it all, Coronel stayed, steady but human, quietly wrestling with doubt as the losses piled up.

     

    “Gusto ko lang i-share na last night, medyo nagkaroon ako ng mga iilan na doubts,” Coronel admitted.

     

    “Ang tagal ko na rin sa team na ‘to at mataas na rin ‘yung ine-expect ko sa team namin ngayon na kaya talaga dapat naming makipagsabayan pero lagi lang kaming kinakapos in the past.”

     

    On Saturday night, nearly a year after their last victory, those doubts finally loosened their grip.

     

    Coronel piloted Galeries Tower to a long-awaited five-set win over ZUS Coffee, snapping a 17-game skid and ending a 345-day drought that had defined both her early pro career and the franchise’s growing pains. It wasn’t just a win—it was proof that staying the course hadn’t been pointless.

     

    The Alas Pilipinas playmaker delivered with composure and command, finishing with 16 excellent sets and eight points while steering a balanced attack that saw four Highrisers score in double figures. When the match tightened, it was Coronel’s poise that kept Galeries Tower from slipping back into familiar territory.

     

    Drafted third overall two years ago, the victory marked just the third win of Coronel’s young PVL career—and only the third five-set triumph in Galeries Tower’s three-year history, following narrow escapes against Gerflor in 2023 and Capital1 in 2024. Small milestones on paper, but massive ones for a team desperate for something to build on.

     

     

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    For Coronel, the moment went far beyond the scoreboard.

     

    “For the longest time, that’s the kind of culture that we’ve been wanting to build, that winning culture. And slowly, we’re getting there,” she said.

     

    “Alam kong may purpose lahat ‘tong pinagdadaanan talaga namin. I just use each and every day as motivation to keep showing up.”

     

    The breakthrough didn’t come without resistance. ZUS Coffee erased a 0–2 deficit behind Chinnie Arroyo, Thea Gagate, Wielyn Estoque, and Riza Nogales, pushing the match to its limits. In the third set, Galeries Tower stormed back from a 9–16 hole to briefly take a 23–22 lead, only to surrender three straight points and allow the Thunderbelles to extend the fight.

     

    This time, though, Galeries Tower didn’t fold.

     

    “Nagtulong-tulong lang ang lahat, at we’re happy that we finally got the elusive win,” Coronel said.

     

    “So, sobrang happy ako sa team tonight na kumapit talaga kaming lahat.”

     

    Even when execution wavered, Coronel pointed to the steady reminders from the bench that kept the group grounded.

     

    “Kahit may mga times na nawawala kami sa sistema, patuloy kaming nire-remind ng coaches na bumalik sa game plan,” she added.

     

    After 345 days of waiting, losing, and questioning, Coronel finally has something concrete to show for the faith she never fully abandoned. The drought is over. The rebuild has a heartbeat. And for Galeries Tower, the win wasn’t just overdue—it was necessary.

     

     

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