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Tag: Julia Coronel

  • Lams Lamina and Julia Coronel give Galeries Tower a good problem at setter 

    Lams Lamina and Julia Coronel give Galeries Tower a good problem at setter 

    For years, Galeries Tower searched for the pieces that could elevate the franchise from hopeful contender to legitimate threat. Now, after selecting Lams Lamina with the first overall pick in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft, the Highrisers may have stumbled upon a different kind of challenge — having too many capable hands running the offense.

     

    Most teams enter a season worrying about who will fill the setter position. Galeries Tower enters this one wondering how to divide it.

     

    The arrival of Lamina instantly strengthens what was already one of the team’s most stable positions. The former National University star brings championship experience, elite decision-making, and a winning culture forged during the Lady Bulldogs’ dynastic run in the UAAP.

     

    Yet the rookie is stepping into a team that already has a proven floor general in Julia Coronel.

     

    Since being selected third overall in the 2024 PVL Draft, Coronel has steadily grown into one of the franchise’s most important building blocks. Her ability to orchestrate the offense helped Galeries Tower take meaningful strides in recent seasons, making her emergence one of the club’s biggest success stories.

     

    Rather than viewing Lamina’s arrival as a threat, however, Coronel sees it as another opportunity for the team to evolve.

     

    “We have a very talented set of spikers din naman and obviously right now, we really need more help in terms of, I would say, also playmaking,” Coronel said.

     

    “I’m very excited to see our dynamic moving forward; kung paano kami magtutulungan, knowing the set of skills and talents that we already have in the team. That is something that we will have to see pa moving forward in practice on how the coaches will be able to instill new systems with our new additions to the team.”

     

    The situation becomes even more intriguing considering that Coronel and Lamina already share a history through Alas Pilipinas, where both earned opportunities to quarterback the national team’s offense. Instead of competing across the net, they now find themselves working toward the same objective.

     

    For head coach Aying Esteban, though, the decision to draft Lamina was never about creating a controversy.

     

    It was about creating security.

     

    In a position where injuries, fatigue, or unexpected circumstances can drastically alter a season, Esteban viewed depth as a necessity rather than a luxury. 

     

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    “Sa posisyon namin, hindi kami pwedeng sumugal na dalawa lang ‘yung setters namin. Hindi namin alam kung ano ‘yung pwedeng mangyari minsan. At least, may pang-fill in pa rin kami at makukumpleto ‘yung lineup namin, at sa roster namin ay magiging ok pa rin kami,” he said.

     

    That mindset has suddenly transformed Galeries Tower into one of the deepest teams at the setter position, especially with veteran Maji Mangulabnan also remaining in the mix.

     

    For Lamina, meanwhile, the focus is not on claiming a starting spot immediately but on proving she belongs.

     

    The former Lady Bulldog arrives carrying the expectations that come with being a No. 1 overall pick, yet she remains intent on bringing the same habits that helped make NU a perennial champion.

     

    “Healthy competition po ‘yun sa amin ng mga ates ko. Ako, as a rookie, ipapakita ko lang po talaga ‘yung best ko, kung ano po mga natutunan ko sa NU ay bibit ko talaga sa team at maishe-share ko rin po sa mga ates ko,” she said.

     

    “Rookie pa lang po ako dito sa PVL, pero same naman po na I will work professionally, with my 100-percent effort, discipline, and work ethic ko po.”

     

    Whether Lamina ultimately wins the starting role is a question that may take weeks or even months to answer.

     

    What is already clear, however, is that Galeries Tower’s biggest gain from draft night may not have been landing the top overall pick itself.

     

    It may have been creating a setter room strong enough to shape the franchise’s future for years to come. 

     

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  • “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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  • 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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