Capital1 stormed into the play-in round as the eighth seed, overpowering Galeries Tower in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24, on the final day of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries Saturday at the Filoil Centre.
The Solar Spikers closed the preliminaries with a 4-5 record and 10 points to secure the eighth seed, setting up a play-in quarterfinal rematch against the ninth-seeded Highrisers, who finished with a 2-7 slate.
Bella Belen delivered when it mattered most in the extended fourth set, scoring three of the team’s last four points to finish with 23 markers, along with 14 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions, as she helped Capital1 snap its two-game skid.
(C) PVL Images
With the Solar Spikers on the brink, trailing 22-23, Belen kept them alive with a crafty push to tie the set before Aiza Maizo-Pontillas fired an off-the-block hit to give Galeries Tower set point.
Belen then rose for an emphatic cross-court hit to force a deadlock at 24-all. A costly attack error from Winnie Bedana gave Capital1 the opening, and Belen capitalized with the game-winning kill to seal the match.
The Solar Spikers finished the fourth set on a massive 15-7 run, rallying from a 17-11 deficit to complete a thrilling comeback.
“Sa training pa lang kasi nasusubukan na namin ‘yung ganoong scenario. Lamang ‘yung kalaban, and then tina-try naming habulin pero lagi naming hindi nagagawa sa training,” said the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft top overall pick.
“Siguro kaka-practice namin sa training, lumalabas ‘yung composure namin kumbaga. I’m very happy din na hindi nawala ‘yung focus ng team. Puwede naman naming ibigay ‘yung fourth set, tapos bawi na lang sa fifth, pero hindi, talagang nilaban ‘yung fourth set kasi kaya naman. Napakita rin po namin na kayang humabol and lumaban ng team kahit ganoon kalayo ‘yung score,” she added.
France Ronquillo added 20 points, 19 of which came from attacks, while Cherry Nunag and Sydney Niegos chipped in 14 and 11 markers, respectively, with Niegos also tallying 13 excellent digs for Capital1.
Jasmine Nabor orchestrated the offense with 20 excellent sets to go along with four points, while team captain and libero Roma Mae Doromal recorded 23 excellent receptions in the one-hour, 55-minute victory.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, Maizo-Pontillas led Galeries Tower with 17 points built on 15 attacks and two kill blocks, along with 11 excellent digs, while Jean Asis contributed 14 points.
Erika Deloria posted a double-double of 10 points and 15 excellent receptions, while Gayla Pascual also finished with 10 markers.
Julia Coronel anchored the offense with 25 excellent sets, along with three points, including two blocks, for the Highrisers.
