When Erika Deloria was selected 20th overall in the 2025 PVL Draft, she was easy to overlook. She did not come from a UAAP or NCAA program, and early in her pro career, opportunities were scarce.
A graduate of Enderun College, Deloria spent much of her rookie season on the bench with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, seeing limited court time before the team eventually disbanded. Her move to the Galeries Tower Highrisers offered a fresh start, one she has steadily turned into a breakthrough.
“Honestly, hindi siya madali na journey for me ha. It’s very hard, but still, love ko ’yung volleyball… Tsaka, alam mo ’yun, ’yung tipong I don’t even know what’s up ahead, pero I still keep on going kasi I have the faith na just keep on going kahit ano lang nasa harap. And thank you, Lord—ayun, nandito tayo ngayon,” Deloria said after Galeries Tower’s five-set win over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Saturday, a victory that snapped the team’s 17-game losing streak.
Deloria delivered 18 points in that breakthrough win, built on 17 attacks, while adding 15 excellent receptions. She was Galeries Tower’s lone double-digit scorer in its opening loss to the Cignal Super Spikers, finishing with 10 points, all from attacks.
Deloria Trusting the Process and Her Teammates
Despite leading the team in scoring in back-to-back matches, Deloria was quick to shift the credit to her teammates, particularly team captain and setter Julia Coronel.
“More on trust. I think ’yung trust na binigay ng coaches sa akin, gusto ko ’yung mindset na binigay nila sa akin doon, so I have to make sure na gagawin ko din palagi ’yung best ko. And also sa teammates ko, the trust they give me every time sa training,” she said.
“Even si Juju (Coronel), palagi niya akong sinasabihan na ganito, ganyan—very helpful talaga siya. And as Juju said, ’yung coaches talaga, remind lang palagi kasi it’s very important din, kaya din namin nakuha ’to kasi hindi din nila kami pinabayaan.”
For Deloria, the surge in production is not about validation or proving anyone wrong. It is about playing the game she loves and contributing wherever she is needed.
“Siyempre, meron naman, but at the same time, I just do it because I want to. Kung saan man ako na team, gusto ko mag-contribute, gusto ko makatulong kahit ano pa ’yan. Tsaka so far, I found a home in Galeries,” she said.
Erika Deloria and her Galeries Tower teammates look to build on their recent breakthrough when they face the Farm Fresh Foxies on Saturday, February 14, at 4:00 p.m. at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
