Erika Deloria has been the Galeries Tower Highrisers' most consistent player so far after their 2-2 start in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Erika Deloria beamed with pride after Galeries Tower's major upset over Nxled in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday night.
Easily seen as the underdogs in the match, the rookie spiker said the win was early proof that the revamped Highrisers are beginning to find their footing.
The victory carried added significance for Deloria, who was part of a major offseason overhaul that saw Galeries Tower bring in 14 new players in hopes of turning around a franchise that endured several winless campaigns.
"Actually, nakaka-proud talaga kasi revamped kami ng team," Deloria said. "Knowing na we have to build our connection ulit. Kailangan namin magpuksaan talaga sa training para makilala namin yung isa't isa."
Deloria played a key role in the win, finishing with 16 points against the Chameleons to continue a steady start to her conference.
It marked her third double-digit outing, after scoring 18 points in Galeries Tower’s first win against ZUS Coffee and adding 10 markers in their opening-day loss to Cignal.
[ALSO READ: Erika Deloria emerges as key piece in Galeries Tower’s breakthrough PVL win]
The unconventional path to the PVL
The 5-foot-7 outside hitter out of Enderun Colleges said the moment was especially meaningful given her unconventional path to the pro ranks.
Drafted 20th overall by the now-defunct Chery Tiggo Crossovers, Deloria eventually found a new home with Galeries Tower, where she says trust has played a central role in her growth.
"Sobrang nakakataba rin ang puso. Kasi, syempre, for me, parang galing talaga from a non-NCAA and non-UAAP, 'yung road na, parang [maraming ups and downs]," she shared.
"Sobrang thankful ako sa tiwala na binigay ng coaches and also sa teammates ko na nagtitiwala sa akin na kaya mo 'yan, ito ganyan. Kung kaya nila, kaya mo din gawin yan."
Erika Deloria spikes the ball during Galeries Tower's four-set win vs Nxled. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
That trust, Deloria noted, has shaped how the Highrisers approach each match, with an emphasis on effort, connection, and staying present.
"Minimotivate namin 'yung isa't isa para umabot sa taas," she said. "More on team effort, and build muna namin 'yung connection namin sa loob before looking far kasi if we look too far, we might not see what's in front of us."
[ALSO READ: Roselle Baliton sees Galeries Tower’s upset of Nxled a step towards winning PVL culture]
The work continues for Deloria and the Highrisers as they gun for back-to-back wins when they face the struggling Choco Mucho Flying Titans next Thursday, February 26, still at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.