PVL: Rookies at the forefront of Capital1’s fiesty challenge

Capital1 Solar Spikers rookie Leila Cruz during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Capital1 rookies Leila Cruz and Roma Mae Doromal brought their A-game against the undermanned but seasoned Chery Tiggo in their 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign opener.

Cruz, the No.2 overall pick of Capital1, unleashed a career-high 20 points including five blocks and tallied 16 digs but it went for naught as they blew a 2-1 match lead and fell to a 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 18-25, 11-15 defeat to Chery Tiggo on Tuesday evening at Philsports Arena.

Cruz said she just wanted to make up for her bad start and needed to step up to the challenge of sustaining their rise in the Reinforced led by Marina Tushova.

READ: 1-Pacman nominee Milka Romero, sister Mandy nurturing rise of Capital1

“May factor na rin ‘yun kasi siyempre nag-look kami sino ‘yung magsis-step up. And gusto ko rin kasi umako ng responsibility kaya I try my best talaga na mag-deliver ng points,” said the former La Salle Lady Spiker.

Doromal, who had 28 digs out of 46 attempts, knows they have a bigger responsibility now in the All-Filipino tilt.

Capital1 Solar Spikers’ Roma Mae Doromal in the PVL All-FIlipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

“’Yung responsibility na namin now, mas malaki na siya kasi gamit na kami ganun. So i-accept lang namin yung responsibility and gawin talaga kung hanggang anong kaya namin,” said the ex-Ateneo captain.

READ: PVL: Capital1 looks to shine behind young standouts

“Physically nag-double work talaga ako. Strength and conditioning. So I feel like ‘yun ‘yung naka-help din. And at the same time, hindi din ganun ka-satisfied pa kasi madami pa rin akong na-miss na mga bola which is ‘yung mga crucial parts,” she added.

The second-round pick of Capital1, owned by 1-Pacman Partylist first nominee Milka and her sister Mandy Romero, said the frustrating narrow loss only serves as a lesson an fuel for the team.

“We’re not that happy din sa naging result ng game kasi sayang, andun na sana. But then ‘yon nga, lesson learned lang din sa ‘min ‘to na at least meron pa kaming pagtututukan pa sa training na i-improve pa as a team,” said Doromal.

READ: PVL: Roma Mae Doromal excited to play for Gorayeb, face older sister

Cruz also vowd to embrace the lessons of their tough five-set loss and continue to step up for the Solar Spikers.

“At least nakita rin po namin na kaya talaga namin. Kinapos lang po talaga. Pero siguro sa lahat ng mga nagawa naming mali, doon kami matututo and mag-a-adjust din kami for our next game,” Cruz said.

“I’m gonna try our best po na bigay talaga lagi yung 100% namin para maka-help po kami sa team,” she added.