Capital1 looks to shine behind young standouts

Capital1 Solar Spikers’ Marina Tushova in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Life is going to be a bit more difficult for Capital1 this time.

The Solar Spikers caught a lot of attention when it crashed the quarterfinals of the PVL Reinforced Conference, but that stint was powered by high-scoring import Marina Tushova.

The Russian rocket reset records for scoring in the PVL to shoulder the offense of Capital1, something the team will miss when it opens its All-Filipino Conference bid on Tuesday against Chery Tiggo.

“[W]e should learn to adjust because it won’t be the same without [Tushova], who for us was … a go-to guy,” coach Roger Gorayeb told the Inquirer in Filipino.

No. 2 rookie pick

“She isn’t here anymore but we still have everything we need in the team. The veteran players are there, such as our setter (Iris Tolenada). I just hope the young ones play better because in this long tournament, it will be easy for us to bounce back, but it will also be easy for our opponents to get back at us,” he added.

One of those young ones will be eager to show what she’s capable of.

Leila Cruz, the second overall pick in the Rookie Draft, is eager to prove her worth to the fast-rising volleyball club owned by Milka Romero, the 1-Pacman party list first nominee, and her sister Mandy.

The former La Salle opposite spiker missed most of UAAP Season 85 and the whole Season 86 due to a knee injury and the 24-year-old standout said she had been limited to strength and conditioning during the predraft workouts.

She was, however, able to train heavily with the national team.

“I was able to keep up with my experience,” the 24-year-old Cruz said. “I’m super motivated. It’s not just because I want to prove something to the team that picked me but also because I want to prove something to myself.”

“My goal is not just to bring back my old form but to be even better.”

Capital1 debuted earlier this year in the All-Filipino Conference but ended up at No. 11 with only a win in 11 games. In their second conference, the Solar Spikers wound up with its best finish at No. 7 after being knocked out by Cignal in a five-set thriller highlighted by Tushova’s 50-point explosion.

Other key cogs include captain Jorelle Singh, Des Clemente and Julia Ipac.

Tolenada’s playmaking, experience and leadership will still play a vital role if Capital1 hopes to still have any ounce of success.

Capital1 can tap into a free agent pool when contracts expire in December but Gorayeb feels the Solar Spikers are good in their current makeup.

“Whatever player we have there, we will make do. [I]f we continue looking for [players] who aren’t [in our roster] … the search will be endless,” he said. “We are still optimistic. We lost a strong scorer but [everyone else did].”

“Everyone is on an equal footing,” Gorayeb said. —WITH REPORTS FROM LANCE AGCAOILI INQ