Capital1’s Iris Tolenada during a game against Chery Tiggo in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — More than guiding the Capital1 Solar Spikers, Iris Tolenada hopes her resurgence will inspire younger players aspiring to play in the PVL someday.
Tolenada was one of the difference makers alongside Russian spiker Marina Tushova, leading the Solar Spikers’ breakthrough quarterfinal appearance in the Reinforced Conference three months ago.
But for the Filipino-American setter, it was Capital1 and coach Roger Gorayeb, who brought back her confidence following a reduced role with the defunct F2 Logistics and a stint in South Korea with GS Caltex Seoul KIXX.
READ: PVL: Rookie at the forefront of Capital1’s fiesty challenge
“I’m so grateful for this team. I’ve said it in probably just about every interview. I’m having such a blast on this team. I’m enjoying myself. I’ve reconnected with that love of volleyball that I’ve been missing for a few years, and the confidence level is finally there again,” Tolenada told Inquirer Sports.
The 33-year-old Tolenada believes her resurgence is a testament to her ability to overcome adversities.
“It’s just about maintaining that confidence, and again, showing my testimony to people. If I can get through everything that I’ve been through in my career, then I think anyone younger than me can also have a successful career,” said Tolenada. “Even if you go through a slump, there’s always going to be something on the other side of digging into your faith and digging into just putting in all of that hard work.”
Leading a team is not new for Tolenada as she is also coaching young kids by sharing her experience in the PVL and overseas.
“I’ve had to step into a leadership role early in my career, so it’s been kind of natural for me. And also being a coach, I’ve learned how to deal with and work with different personalities, and I think that’s helped me a lot. And also playing in other countries has really helped me with my experience, my playing experience that I’m able to trickle down and share with these other girls,” she said. “I’ve had to really learn my hitters and learn what their strengths are and their weaknesses are, but also have some creativity in my offense.”
Tolenada is grateful to Gorayeb and the Solar Spikers for allowing her to be “a free-flowing offensive maker.”
READ: PVL: Chery Tiggo withstands pesky Capital1 in five sets
“Since day one, Coach Roger has just allowed me to step in the gym and start doing what I needed to do right away. In the Philippines, sometimes you step in and the coaches just want it their way, but ever since the first day I stepped in the gym, I told Coach Roger what my vision is as a setter and as a leader, and he just lets me do what I need to do,” said Tolenada. “He’ll definitely step in when he needs to coach me, and the thing that he’s been working on the most is my patience, and how can I bring the best out of the younger players, and how can I help the middle-aged players or the older players lead the younger ones as well.”
“So for me, it’s definitely just dealing with a lot of patience, but also showing other people how to lead, because I’m trying to do this for the next generation coming up,” she added.
In their first game without the prolific Tushova, Tolenada and the Solar Spikers fell to Chery Tiggo in five sets in the All-Filipino Conference on Nov. 12.
The star setter reminded her team to act professionally and step up to fill in the void left by their import as they try to bounce back against Choco Mucho on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Tolenada is confident that their familiarity and chemistry will sustain their rise in the six-month PVL competition.
“I think I have a great relationship with my team. This group of girls is a special one and someone that helps me do this also is our other setter May Macatuno. She and I collaborate a lot on the offense and as two being the ates and the same age, she really helps me deal with patience and she helps me navigate since she’s been here from the start,” said Tolenada. “It’s been really cool leading these girls, and it’s been quite a test of patience for sure. But it’s a role that I embrace and that I’m very grateful for.”