ANTIPOLO — Bella Belen delivered a career-best performance as Capital1 survived a nerve-racking five-set thriller against Akari, 28-26, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25, 21-19, to claim its first victory in the 2026-27 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab series on Thursday at the Ynares Center here.
Belen had previously vowed that the Solar Spikers would not let another sizable lead slip away after squandering a 2-0 advantage in their opening-day loss to Choco Mucho. And she made good on her promise with a 35-point explosion built on 34 attacks and one block.
She also tallied 20 excellent digs and 19 excellent receptions in the two-hour, 33-minute battle, capping an all-around performance as Capital1 bounced back to even its record at 1-1.
Belen’s 35-point outburst eclipsed her previous career high of 29 points, which she recorded on February 17 this year in Capital1’s five-set victory over Choco Mucho.
(C) PVL Images
“Napag-usapan kasi namin during the fifth set na nandun na kami, so may chance na kaming ipanalo. And hindi naman nagkakalayo ‘yung score kahit lamang ‘yung kalaban,” said the 2025 PVL Rookie of the Year.
“Masaya maglaro sa mga ganung situations, ‘yung kumbaga ‘yung challenge talagang nandun. Ako, ang iniisip ko lang palagi kung ano pa ‘yung puwede kong matulong sa team and kung ano ‘yung kaya kong gawin para sa team,” she added.
Familiar frustrations threatened to resurface for the Solar Spikers after they failed to close out the match in the fourth set despite taking a 2-1 lead.
The Chargers then rallied from an 11-13 deficit in the deciding set, with Fifi Sharma and Grethcel Soltones sparking a 3-0 run. That gave Akari a 14-13 lead and threatened another heartbreaking finish for Capital1.
But Belen refused to let the Solar Spikers fold. She drew with a block touch to tie the score at 14-all and ignite a tense exchange of blows in the decider.
With momentum threatening to swing in the Chargers’ favor, Capital1 refused to buckle. The team saved six match points to pull level at 18-all before last year’s top overall draft pick took over once more.
Erika Santos broke the deadlock with an emphatic down-the-line hit, before Belen unleashed back-to-back attacks to finally put away Akari and cap a remarkable escape for the Solar Spikers.
“First of all, I’m happy because they’re showing the fight; they’re showing the fire that we had been building since we started in Capital1. But since we have more members, really good ones that we added to our team, I’m really happy (especially coming) off our last match,” said Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
Julia Coronel orchestrated the Solar Spikers’ offense with 29 excellent sets and two points. Rookie Detdet Pepito once again delivered a stellar performance with 24 excellent digs.
Vanie Gandler, who sat out the second and third sets, joined Santos and Cherry Nunag in finishing with 10 points each, while team captain Pauline Gaston chipped in nine.
Capital1 will look to string together back-to-back victories when it faces ZUS Coffee on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, the Chargers — who absorbed a straight-set defeat to defending champion Creamline on opening day — suffered their second consecutive loss to open the tournament.
Sharma turned in her best performance in the PVL, scoring 20 points on 18-of-34 attacks and two blocks.
Ivy Lacsina added 19 points, 26 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs. Then Eli Soyud, who played a pivotal role in Akari’s fourth set, finished with 17 points in three sets.
Mars Alba dished out 32 excellent sets in the losing effort, while Justine Jazareno recorded 25 excellent digs.
Akari will look to snap its two-game skid when it takes on PLDT on Tuesday at 6:00 PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
