IRIS RISES

At 33, Iris Tolenada can start thinking about legacy.

She is in a more secure place in her career now, getting not just a lot of playing time with Capital1 as its lead playmaker but also embracing a leadership role with a chance to transform a young franchise into a regular winner in the Premier Volleyball League.

“I’m so grateful for this team,” Tolenada said of the Solar Spikers during an interview with the Inquirer. “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 is one of the biggest names in volleyball, a stature she has nursed since being the top overall draft pick in the defunct Philippine Superliga in 2015. The following year, she played for Pocari Sweat in the Shakey’s V-League and helped steer the team to a championship.

She flew to Korea to suit up for GS Caltex Seoul KIXX before eventually finding her way to F2 Logistics, where she took an a reduced role playing behind chief setter Kim Fajardo.

But then, the Cargo Movers disbanded, forcing Tolenada to a few moments of uncertainty. It was with the Solar Spikers that she rebooted her career in the Philippines.

Tolenada was one of the franchise’s transformative stars alongside Russian spiker Marina Tushova, leading the Solar Spikers to a breakthrough quarterfinal appearance in the Reinforced Conference.

Assistant coach

That run by Capital1 put Tolenada back in the limelight again and the Filipino American setter rediscovered the confidence that once made her one of the top stars of women’s volleyball.

“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,” she said, crediting Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb for helping renew her faith in herself.

And that self-belief is something that will be part of her legacy. Tolenada also coaches young volleyball players and hopes to impart her experience to them.

“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,” she said.

Tolenada is listed as an assistant coach for the San Francisco Gators volleyball team, a role which comes easy to her.

“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 said she is grateful to Gorayeb and the Solar Spikers for giving that creativity room to grow by allowing her to be “a free-flowing offense maker.”

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Bounce back

“Since Day 1, 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,” she said.

“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,” Tolenada added. “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.”