Just hours after celebrating a five-set thriller with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) women’s team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), coaches Lerma Giron and Shaq Delos Santos found themselves on opposite sides of the net in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference qualifying round.

Giron, leading the 10th-seeded Galeries Tower, orchestrated a stunning four-set upset over Delos Santos’ third-seeded Cignal, clinching a historic quarterfinals berth for the Highrisers.

While it was a monumental victory for Giron, it came at the expense of a close friend and respected colleague.

“Of all the teams we could have faced, it had to be a team coached by my good friend and co-worker,” Giron said.

“I have immense respect for Cignal and their coaching staff. Their system is remarkable, and they have remained a top contender despite facing challenges. Coach Shaq, Coach Rico [De Guzman], and the rest of the staff — those guys are my ‘loves.’ We’ll still see each other later.”

Fresh from the UAAP match, Giron had to finalize Galeries Tower’s lineup, address injuries, and carve out whatever rest she could before the crucial PVL encounter.

“We finished the UAAP match and left MoA Arena at around 9 p.m.,” she recalled.

“Then Alyssa [Eroa] messaged me, asking for the lineup, but I hadn’t even made one yet. We had injuries to consider, so I had to call our physical therapist to check who was cleared to play.”

Despite the chaos, Giron prioritized rest, knowing the significance of the upcoming match.

“I made sure to sleep early, around 10:30 or 11 p.m., and woke up at 9 a.m. to be fully prepared. I knew this game wouldn’t be easy, so I had to be physically and mentally ready.”

Now that the Highrisers have made history, Giron is determined to push forward.

“We have to prove that we belong here,” Giron said, emphasizing the team’s determination and resilience after their stunning performance against the HD Spikers.

“The next stage will be even more challenging, and inconsistency is not an option. I trust our players and our coaching staff. We’ll stand our ground, even if it means shedding blood, sweat, and tears, because this is what we’ve worked so hard for. By God’s grace, we will fight for this.”

Galeries Tower’s Cinderella run continues, and with Giron at the helm, they are embracing the challenge head-on.

The Highrisers will kick off their quarterfinal campaign on 15 March, taking on the victor of the Akari-Farm Fresh clash set for 4 March.