When Leila Cruz entered the inaugural PVL Draft last July, she was coming off a long layoff due to a right ACL injury she sustained during the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament with De La Salle University.
Still, Capital1 saw something special in the 6-foot-1 opposite spiker, taking a gamble on her with the second overall pick.
In her first conference with the Solar Spikers, Cruz performed modestly, totaling 54 points across 34 sets played in the team’s nine games, which saw them reach the quarterfinals of the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
The former Lady Spiker only hit double digits once — a 10-point performance against Farm Fresh — as Russian guest player Marina Tushova took the scoring mantle for Capital1.
Now, without their super import who reset the PVL scoring record three times, with her last game being a 50-point brilliance in a five-set loss in the quarterfinals against Cignal, Cruz is leveling up her game in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
“Siguro po may factor na rin ‘yun (na wala si Marina) kasi syempre nag-look kami sino ‘yung magsi-step up,” said Cruz.
“Siguro gusto ko rin kasi umako ng responsibility kaya I try my best talaga na mag-deliver ng points.”
(C) PVL Images
In their opener of the five-month AFC, Cruz led the way for the Solar Spikers, producing a career-best 20 points — 14 on attacks, five on blocks, and one from a service ace — while also displaying her floor defense with 16 excellent digs.
However, the five-setter against Chery Tiggo did not go their way, as they lost 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 18-25, 11-15 on Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena.
Even though she hit a new career-high in scoring, the 24-year-old spiker from Malabon is not content.
“Sakto lang. Sakto lang po kasi bad start ako. So parang kulang pa talaga pero happy naman po,” said Cruz.
But when asked about the team’s performance, wherein they pushed the Crossovers to five sets, Cruz was proud of their stand.
She believes that this five-set match will serve as an added shot of confidence for them going into their next game on November 21 against Choco Mucho at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
“At least nakita rin po namin na kaya talaga namin. Kinapos lang po talaga. Pero siguro sa lahat ng mga nagawa naming mali, doon kami matututo and mag-a-adjust din kami for our next game,” she said.
