After two years and four tournaments, Galeries Tower Highrisers has finally made it to the PVL playoffs! The Highrisers pulled off the biggest surprise of the season by defeating Cignal in four sets 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19. This exciting match took place during the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
Galeries Tower, ranked 10th, surprised everyone by beating Cignal, who had injured players, to reach the quarterfinals. They will now go up against either Farm Fresh or Akari in the next round. This win is special for Galeries Tower because it’s their first time defeating Cignal HD Spikers after losing to them four times in a row. It’s also their best performance in the league after struggling in their first three conferences.
Galeries Tower’s head coach, Lerma Giron, still can’t believe the win is real. She had just finished a tough five-set match with the University of Santo Tomas, where she also works as an assistant coach with Cignal’s coach, Shaq delos Santos. After the game, Giron shared how she felt.
"It feels like a dream. We are very thankful. All our tears, blood, and sweat were worth it because we went through so much before this game," Giron said.
"We started the year with many losses. We kept losing, and it made us realize that we needed to change. It was all part of the process. We studied Cignal’s movements, and we worked hard to prepare. Thank you, Lord, all glory to God."
Galeries Tower went from being one of the worst teams to making the playoffs, showing how hard they worked. They started with a rough 1-11 record in the first round but improved at just the right time. Their success came from carefully studying their opponents and changing their game plan when needed.
Cignal, a team famous for doing well in past tournaments, had a tough time in this match. They were already dealing with injuries, and things got worse in Set 2 when winger Jov Fernandez had to leave the court wearing a neck brace. With fewer players to rely on, the HD Spikers struggled, and Galeries Tower took full advantage.
Cignal is usually a strong team, but this match showed that even top teams can have a hard time when important players are missing. Without Fernandez, they struggled even more, making it difficult to follow their game plan.
With this loss, Cignal now has to play in the play-in tournament, along with other teams that lost in the Farm Fresh-Akari and Petro Gazz-Capital1 matches. This is a new challenge for Cignal since they have always been one of the stronger teams in past PVL seasons. Now, they need to regroup and fight hard to stay in the tournament.
Galeries Tower’s victory was powered by the outstanding performances of Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo. Jimenez led the team with 23 points, including 22 attacks and one block. Meanwhile, Ronquillo contributed 20 points and 13 digs, making sure the team stayed strong on both offense and defense.
Jimenez’s powerful attacks were too much for Cignal’s defense, while Ronquillo’s all-around performance helped keep the team stable. Their teamwork and energy gave Galeries Tower the edge they needed to close out the match in four sets.
With this victory, Galeries Tower has become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the PVL playoffs. Their journey from being a low-ranked team to reaching the quarterfinals is inspiring. While tougher matches are ahead, their confidence is growing.
This win is also significant because it proves that rankings do not always determine a team’s success. Hard work, strategy, and teamwork can sometimes outweigh experience and past achievements. Galeries Tower’s underdog status makes them an exciting team to follow.
Congrats if you placed bets on the underdogs, Galeries Tower! Their unexpected victory proves that anything can happen in sports, making betting on rising teams even more rewarding. If they continue playing with the same energy and determination, they might surprise even more teams in the tournament.
Galeries Tower will now focus on their next opponent, either Farm Fresh or Akari. Both teams have shown strong performances this season, so it will not be an easy task for the Highrisers. However, with their newfound momentum, anything is possible.
Their coaches and players will continue studying their opponents and improving their strategies. If they can maintain their aggressive playing style and teamwork, they have a chance to advance even further in the playoffs.
Galeries Tower’s fans are also growing in numbers as more people start to believe in their abilities. Many supporters see this as the beginning of a new era for the team, one where they can compete with the league’s best.
With the PVL playoffs heating up, sports fans and bettors are closely watching every match. Galeries Tower’s amazing journey has not only changed the league but also made sports betting more exciting.
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