Capital1 continued its impressive surge, stunning Choco Mucho in straight sets, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, to seize control of the virtual third-seed showdown in Pool A of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference, Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Solar Spikers — whose supposed opening-day loss to the Flying Titans was wiped from the standings — drew solid contributions from import Oleksandra Bytsenko and their local crew led by top rookie Bella Belen and Rachel Austero, to finish the first round with a 3-2 record and secure a spot in Pool D.
Bytsenko led the way, especially after Belen went down midway through the third set. The import finished with 17 points built on 15 attacks and two aces, along with eight excellent receptions.
Capital1 flipped the script on Choco Mucho, who had dealt them a straight-set loss in their All-Filipino Conference opener.
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Belen, who exited the match due to cramps with Capital1 holding a slim 15-14 lead in the third set, still managed to contribute 11 points. Austero added eight markers and six excellent digs in a spot start for KC Galdones, who was not in uniform.
“This kind of process is super good that we [won] in straight sets. But we need more, and we’re gonna fight for more. The next part of the tournament is super, super important, and the focus now is to recover these guys and [be] back to show up again,” said Capital1 head coach Jorge De Brito.
With the win, the Solar Spikers — now on a two-game streak — joined PLDT and Farm Fresh in Pool D. They will face Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo EV, and Galeries Tower in the second round.
Capital1 aims to make it three straight wins when it faces Chery Tiggo on Tuesday at 6:30 PM at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Meanwhile, the Flying Titans fell to fourth place with a 2-3 slate and will head to Pool C.
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Anyse Smith led Choco Mucho with 12 points and eight excellent digs, while Maddie Madayag chipped in 11 markers on six kill blocks and five attacks.
Isa Molde tallied 10 points and nine excellent receptions in an all-around effort, but the rest of the Flying Titans struggled to find rhythm in the one-hour and 31-minute encounter.
Thang Ponce anchored the defense with 22 excellent digs and 16 receptions.
Choco Mucho will be placed in Pool C alongside Cignal and Nxled, and will face Pool B’s top teams — ZUS Coffee, Creamline, and Akari — in the next round.
The Flying Titans will open their second-round campaign against the Thunderbelles in Candon on Saturday at 6:30 PM.
