Highrisers author AFC-defining reversal, oust Solar Spikers

Games Thursday

Araneta Coliseum

4 p.m. – PLDT vs Farm Fresh

6:30 – Creamline vs Cignal

Galeries Tower proved it’s built to last – not to collapse.

With nerves of steel and a refusal to yield, the Highrisers pulled off the biggest reversal of the All-Filipino Conference, stunning the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 25-16, 25-20, 30-28, to survive the Play-In stage of the Premier Volleyball League Tuesday at the FilOil Centre.

Blowing multiple match points and fending off several set points in a heart-stopping third set, the Highrisers outlasted an explosive performance from Bella Belen, who nearly willed the Solar Spikers back into the match.

But Galeries Tower refused to break.

Instead, they regrouped, recalibrated and delivered under pressure – turning what seemed like an inevitable collapse into a defining triumph.

Now, a far tougher challenge awaits: the No. 5 Nxled Chameleons in the next step-ladder showdown Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The victory perfectly encapsulated the league’s centerpiece conference’s prevailing theme – unpredictable, volatile and unforgiving.

If there was any constant, it was Belen. The young star unleashed 10 of her 21 points in the third set alone, dragging Capital1 back into contention after dropping the first two frames.

Yet even her brilliance wasn’t enough.

Galeries Tower countered with collective grit, defensive adjustments and unwavering belief. In a third set that became a test of power, poise and endurance, the Highrisers held their ground, matching every surge and refusing to blink.

Head coach Clarence Esteban’s in-game adjustments proved pivotal. After failed attempts to close out the match, the Highrisers shifted to a combination play that culminated in a soaring kill from Gayle Pascual – an unexpected, decisive blow that left the Solar Spikers stunned.

Game over. Season alive.

In a match where composure spelled the difference, middle blocker Jean Asis led the charge with 17 points, including three blocks and two aces, earning Best Player of the Game honors.

“We worked on our lapses, especially in blocking and defensive patterns,” she said. “Gustung-gusto talagang manalo ng team. Kaya push lang – walang susuko.”

That determination showed.

Juju Coronel orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets, while Pascual delivered 14 points, none bigger than her match-clinching hit. Veteran Aiza Pontillas added 12 markers, providing calm amid chaos, while Roselle Baliton reinforced the middle with 11 points, including a crucial stretch highlighted by back-to-back blocks on Belen.

For Capital1, the loss was a bitter pill.

Belen delivered another 20-point plus game but lacked consistent support. Cherry Nunag managed seven, while Leila Cruz and Shaya Adorador added five apiece – numbers that underscored the team’s struggle to match Galeries Tower’s late-game cohesion.

In short, Capital1 came out flat and paid the price.

What made the one-hour, 35-minute win even more remarkable was the context.

The Highrisers entered the Play-In stage with just two wins in nine games. But the league’s new format gave them a second life.

And they seized it.

In a do-or-die battle where one misstep could end everything, Galeries Tower didn’t just survive.

They delivered the conference’s most stunning comeback yet.