MANILA, Philippines — There is nowhere to go but up for the Galeries Tower HighRisers after pulling off the biggest upset in the qualifying round of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Now that they booked their first playoffs appearance, No.10 Galeries looks to make the most of the opportunity and write its own Cinderella story after stunning third-seed Cignal, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

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Determined to rise from all their heartbreaks from 10 losses in their 11 preliminary round games,  Ysa Jimenez turned their self-doubts into motivation to defy the odds, leaving everything on the floor to unleash a game-high 23 points on a 22-of-55 attacking clip.

READ: PVL: Playing with nothing to lose, Galeries gets biggest franchise win

“We really believe in something, we say that everything happens for a reason, and this is it. Like they say, if it’s meant for you, it will really be given to you,” said Jimenez, who averaged 10 points in the preliminary round.

For playing her heart out, which led to one of the biggest upsets in the league history, Jimenez earned the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of February 27 to March 1.

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The University of Santo Tomas product bested teammate and top libero Alyssa Eroa for the weekly nod of the competition streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.pvl.ph as well as Petro Gazz’s Brooke Van Sickle, Creamline’s Bea De Leon, and Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina for the weekly plum deliberated by reporters from print and online publications covering the pioneering volleyball league.

Now that the Highrisers made it to the playoffs, coach Lerma Giron urged Jimenez and Co. not to waste the golden opportunity they earned as they battle the winner of the Farm Fresh-Akari qualifying game in a best-of-three quarterfinals series.

“We need to stand by this. We fought for this on this stage, and we know where we’re headed next — it’s going to be very challenging. We can’t just be on and off here,” Giron said. “I trust these players and even the coaches. Even if we have to cry and bleed again, it’s worth it because we’ve come this far. This is what we want. So, by God’s grace, we will stand firm in this.”

READ: PVL: Fueled by heartbreak, Ysa Jimenez comes through for Galeries

Giron said they are just reaping the result of their growing pains from being pushovers since joining the league in 2023 to become a surprise playoff team.

“It’s a milestone for us — for the team, for the players, for the coaches. I’m just really grateful. Since Day 1, I trusted the players I chose, and I believed in what we had as a team. Even though we don’t have the big names or stars in volleyball, our goal here is to work together as a team,” said the veteran coach. “Even if our ace player isn’t a scorer, when it’s a team effort, that’s our main goal — to play as a team. Ever since Galeries started, I’ve believed in the players, the system, and the coaches here.”

“I believe this time, the process is working, it’s not instant. Everything that’s happened to us is part of that process. In the past, we were always close but never quite there. Before, we were playing with different purposes, but now it feels like we’re all on the same path, flowing in the same direction, and on the same page,” she added.