MANILA, Philippines — Coach Roger Gorayeb said Capital1 has nowhere to go but up in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference after Russian import Marina Tushova took them to greater heights in the previous Reinforced tournament.

“Pataas na kami, hindi kami pwedeng bumaba pa uli,” Gorayeb told Inquirer Sports. “Hindi ko naman alam, ang daming mga teams, naglipatan-lipatan yung player nila. Kami, wala naman. Kami-kami lang. Kailangan lang itaas ng itaas. Siyempre, nakalagay lahat yan sa balikat ko eh. Kaya ang laking responsibilidad na maganda yung performance namin yung nakaraan na dagdagan pa yun.”

Article continues after this advertisement

From a one-win debut in the first All-Filipino, Tushova spelled the difference for Capital1, showing her generational scoring prowess that set the top three PVL scoring records including a 50-point outburst in a quarterfinal loss.

READ: PVL: Romero sisters Milka and Mandy nurturing Capital1 rise

This six-month All-Filipino, Gorayeb urges his wards to step up as they no longer have the Russian scoring machine. 

“Hopefully, masustain namin yung ginawa namin ng second conference or more pa. Nireremind ko lang sila palagi na wala ng Marina na nandiyan para umopensa sa atin. Wala na tayong go-to guy,” said the veteran PVL coach. “Dapat isa sa inyo maging go-to guy. Hindi na pepwede yung pag naglaro kayo, nahihiya kayo. Hindi na pwedeng ganun. Kailangan trabaho na kayo sa sarili niyo para at least makatulong kayo sa team.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Gorayeb is pinning his hopes on veteran spikers Jorelle Singh and Heather Guino-o as well as rookie Leila Cruz, who was the team’s second overall pick in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft.

Setter Iris Tolenada, middle blockers Des Clemente and Julia Ipac, and rookie libero Roma Mae Doromal are also expected to deliver for the Solar Spikers in the longest PVL conference, which will run until April with a qualifying round and play-in taking place after a single-round robin, followed by a best-of-three quarterfinals, semifinals round-robin, and best-of-three titular series.

READ: PVL: Cignal overcomes Marina Tushova, Capital1 to book semis spot

“Alam mo, iniisip ko kung papaano mo sila i-stretch ng six months. Kasi hindi naman po pwedeng ang lakas mo ng three months, tapos bagsakan na doon sa last three months. Kailangan ma-pacing ng maayos para habang tumatagal yung liga, lumalakas na yung team ng lumalakas,” Gorayeb said. “Yung mind nila at yung stamina nila, lahat yun kailangan mag-improve. Wag babara-bara sa ensayo na bukas pa lang mag-opening, next week wala na yung player mo, lupaypay na.”

Gorayeb has achieved a lot in his career in the league and in the NCAA. But he hopes to repay the trust and passion of team owners Milka and her sister Mandy Romero with a PVL championship.

“Gusto ko siyempre, una mag-champion. Pangalawa, slowly build up the team kasi talagang nagsimula kami sa ilalim eh. Malaki na expectation sa amin eh. Gusto ko lang, ma-develop nang husto yung mga bata. Mag-iba yung utak nila. Move away from college volleyball,” said Gorayeb. “This is a different level of volleyball.  Marealize nila na we don’t just play for scholarship. We play for our family, we play for our future. Ito na, ito na yung ibang level na ito eh.”

Capital1 debuts on Tuesday against Chery Tiggo at Philsports Arena.