Capital gains

Capital1 did not have the easiest debut in the PVL back in the All-Filipino Conference earlier in the year.

The Solar Spikers continue to experience that tough luck in the new Reinforced Conference after a 25-18, 27-25, 22-25, 25-14 opening game defeat to the revamped Akari last Thursday, but coach Roger Gorayeb remains optimistic that it will only get better for his young squad.

“We are going to rise. We are rising slowly, right?” Gorayeb said in Filipino. “For me, we definitely improved and the young ones are a big help. All they need to do is develop their confidence and be incorporated in the team.”

Those young bloods include rookies like second overall pick Leila Cruz and 14th pick libero Roma Mae Doromal who got a taste of the tough and very competitive pro league against the Chargers in their opening game in Pool B of the import-laced conference.

Capital1 copped only a single win, against Strong Group (now named ZUS Coffee), in 11 games in its maiden campaign, something that the Solar Spiker are hoping to improve on with the arrival of new talents.

“I have a lot of new talent which is something to look forward to. Young players who just graduated and moving over here and whom I can teach a lot of things unlike others [who have already] known a different system over the years before coming here,” Gorayeb added, noting that the Solar Spikers have been together short of six months.

“Like what they say ‘you cannot teach old dogs new tricks.’ But I am happy because they are what we need—a good libero and a tall opposite hitter who can block,” he added. “But we will do things slowly.”

And the seasoned mentor’s patience is coming from a good place with Cruz coming from a lull after not playing with La Salle in the UAAP Season 86 despite recovering from an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury the year prior.

‘Hell group’

Doromal, who has expressed her desire to clinch a championship in the pro ranks after a disappointing stint in the UAAP with Ateneo, will also have to work to make a presence felt stronger inside the court.

“You cannot avoid the newcomers still being shy and not talking too much which is something that I do not like. I want them to be loud and active inside like this one,” Gorayeb said, referring to Doromal who was sitting beside him.

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“Here you need to be tough while in the learning process even if we were assigned in the hell group,” he added as Capital1 hopes to improve in a group where it is bunched with last conference’s bronze medalist and defending champion Petro Gazz, consistent performer Cignal, two-time finalist Choco Mucho and ZUS Coffee.

Cruz capped her baptism by fire with seven points from six attacks while the former Blue Eagle captain had 13 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.

“Our defense was strong but our offense lacked and we don’t know why we struggled. That’s it for the first game. More games to come,” he said.

“But I am looking at it on the positive side, it’s a big test for us … We’ll never know. In six months we’ve improved like this, how much more in a year, so there is still something to look forward to … to be more intelligent when we play and not use our emotions … We need to always have composure [and learn from] experience,” Gorayeb said.