After missing action in the pro circuit for years on end, Alyssa Eroa feels immense gratitude to the Galeries Tower Highrisers for another chance of playing in the Premier Volleyball League during the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
Alyssa Eroa and the Galeries Tower Highrisers entered their final game of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference with a clear mindset — to finish strong.
Driven by such a desire, the Highrisers gave the semis-bound Chery Tiggo Crossovers a massive scare before bowing out in five sets, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 12-25, 9-15, on Thursday in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Despite the loss, Eroa and her teammates held their heads high, taking pride in their valiant stand, which marked as a promising finish to what was a breakthrough campaign for Galeries Tower in the PVL.
The Highrisers had their best campaign yet with three wins in 11 outings, two steps forward from their one-win maiden run in the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.
“Sobrang saya po kasi na-reach 'yung goal namin na mas maganda 'yung maipakita namin lalo ngayong last game namin this conference, at nakakadagdag din po ng kumpiyansa sa bawa't isa para sa next conference,” said Eroa, who collected 25 digs in the gallant effort.
On a personal note, the 27-year-old Eroa feels glad to have proven that she still belongs in the professional scene as she's currently the best digger in the elimination round with 5.41 digs per set.
“Sobrang saya po ulit na nakabalik dito sa PVL, parang 'di rin ako makapaniwala na pwede pa po palang makabalik,” she bared.
“Sobrang thank you po sa management ng Galeries kasi pinagkatiwalaan nila ako na makalaro sa team nila.”
Eroa was one of the offseason additions of Galeries Tower earlier this year.
Prior to her league return, the 4-foot-11 libero last saw action in the PVL back in the 2021 Open Conference with BaliPure, after which she found herself without a contract. Determined to make a comeback, she kept herself in top form, even joining the Marikina Lady Shoemasters in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association.
“'Yung last na pagpasok po dun sa BaliPure parang after nung liga parang wala na po talagang pag-asa kasi wala rin po talagang kumo-contact. Wala po talaga. So parang ang nangyari na po nun, pinakondisyon ko po 'yung sarili ko sa buong dalawang, two to three years para makabalik. Ta's triny ko lang pong mag-try out sa ibang liga ta's parang pwede pa po pala,” Eroa said.
“Nagulat na lang din po ako, sa awa ng Diyos, may kumontact din po na PVL team. So 'di ko na sasayangin 'tong second chance na 'to.”
As Eroa vowed to give her absolute best for Galeries Tower, the Highrisers are determined to live up to their moniker and continue their upward trajectory in the conferences ahead.