‘Still getting there’: Julia Coronel says working on team chemistry with Solar Spikers

MANILA — Capital1 setter Julia Coronel is still working on her chemistry with her spikers, as the franchise dreams of reaching greater heights in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Siklab series.

As one of the newcomers in the Solar Spikers squad, joining in the offseason alongside former Cignal stars Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos, Coronel acknowledged that their connection will “take a lot of time,” taking it game by game as the tournament progresses.

“We’re honestly still getting there. May mga times pa rin talaga na may mga scenario, situations na hindi pa talaga kami fully nagko-connect,” said the former La Salle playmaker.

“But again, that is very inevitable nga kasi nga ilang weeks pa lang or halos one month pa lang talaga kami nagte-training as this new core ng Capital1,” she added.

Coronel though vowed to continue improving with the Solar Spikers, who overcame Zus Coffee, 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8, on Tuesday—their third straight five-set match.

“And so it will really take a lot of time. And I feel like that was something na we didn’t really have the luxury of before the start of the tournament. But again, we’re just going to keep banking on every game, every experience that we get.”

Coronel shared how big it is to have star spikers in her team, having Gandler, Santos, as well as Bella Belen. She tallied 13 excellent sets against the Thunderbelles, playing alongside fellow setter Jas Nabor.

“Well, definitely, it’s a big luxury to have a lot of talented players and a lot of options talaga in terms of attacking. And ano din talaga, iba rin talaga ‘yung character and experience ng bawat isa sa kanila, which is something na I’m also learning from them,” said the third overall pick of the 2024 PVL Draft.

“And kahit, ‘yun nga, we’re just really doing our best effort to really connect as fast as we can and really build the maturity of our team para mabaon namin sa mga susunod pa namin na mga games.”