Capital1 head coach Roger Gorayeb emphasized the importance of having a consistent presence in the middle as the Solar Spikers continue their rebuild for the upcoming conferences.
The rebuild continues for the Capital1 Solar Spikers after a rather disappointing 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign.
The Solar Spikers finished with just one win in the extended conference and lost twice during the play-in tournament in Pool A, where they lost to the Cignal HD Spikers and ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
Looking to add more talent to the team, head coach Roger Gorayeb made it clear what positions will be his top priority come the PVL Draft in June.
“Kailangan na kailangan namin ng middle talaga. Dun ako nahihirapan,” Gorayeb told reporters. “'Yung middle talaga na legitimate tapos well-experienced. Open na din siguro. Outside hitter, isa o dalawa.”
Currently, Capital1 has four middle blockers in the squad namely, Des Clemente-De Guzman, Julia Ipac, Sydney Niegos, and Katherine Villegas.
And while the four have provided some spark at times during the conference, the veteran tactician knows the importance of having a stable middle blocker at all times.
“‘Yung middle 'yung malaking gap sa amin eh kasi pag walang threat sa gitna, kawawa 'yung outside hitter. Sa kanila nakasalalay 'yung pagpapanalo sa team. Kumbaga hindi nadi-distribute kasi kung wala kang threat sa middle, talagang open lang 'yung pupuntahan mo,” Gorayeb explained.
Last year, the Solar Spikers selected Leila Cruz and Roma Mae Doromal with the 2nd and 14th pick in the draft.
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Aside from adding promising players to the team through the draft, Gorayeb is also hoping to find experienced players that are capable of competing at a high level.
“PVL is a professional league. It's one notch higher. Parang high school, iba maglaro sa collegiate. From collegiate, biglang may ganitong—so mas mataas na level ba. Eh 'yung mga bata ngayon galing sa college, malakas sa college pero nandito na 'yung mga magugulang maglaro eh. Kaya dapat mabilis silang matuto. Sana makakuha,” said Gorayeb.
The Solar Spikers will likely have the second-best chance of landing the top pick in what is expected to be a loaded PVL Draft.