Galeries Tower finally found the breakthrough it had been chasing for nearly a year.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Highrisers dug deep to outlast ZUS Coffee, 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 15-10, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Montalban. The victory ended a painful 345-day drought and snapped a 17-game losing streak that had long shadowed the franchise.

The win did not come easy. Galeries Tower squandered a two-set lead before regaining its poise in the fifth, leaning on composure and timely execution to finally close out a match that stretched over two hours.

The Highrisers had not tasted victory since stunning Cignal on Feb. 27, 2025 — a triumph that propelled them to their first-ever quarterfinal appearance. What followed was a brutal stretch marked by consecutive quarterfinal exits, a winless PVL On Tour campaign, and an 0-8 run in the Reinforced Conference.

Breakthrough built on belief

Team captain Julia Coronel steadied the offense when momentum threatened to slip away, orchestrating the attack with control in the deciding frame.

“Nagtulong-tulong lang ang lahat, at we’re happy that we finally got the elusive win,” said Coronel after steering the Highrisers through the pressure moments.

New head coach Clarence Esteban, who oversaw a massive offseason overhaul that brought in 14 new players including veteran Aiza Pontillas, kept faith in his rebuilding squad despite an opening-day shutout loss to Cignal.

“So, sobrang happy ako sa team tonight na kumapit talaga kaming lahat,” Coronel added. “Kahit may mga times na nawawala kami sa sistema, patuloy kaming nire-remind ng coaches na bumalik sa game plan.”

Esteban echoed that sentiment, praising his players’ responsiveness to the system despite limited time together.

“Masaya kami kasi kahit short time lang ang pagsasama namin, nagre-react sila sa system,” he said. “Very happy ako sa resulta.”

Decider dominance seals the deal

ZUS Coffee mounted a fierce comeback behind Chinnie Arroyo, Thea Gagate, Wielyn Estoque and Riza Nogales, erasing a 0-2 deficit to force a deciding set. In the third frame, Galeries Tower wiped out a 9-16 hole and even moved ahead 23-22 before surrendering three straight points.

The Thunderbelles carried that momentum into the fourth to level the match, but the Highrisers regrouped in the fifth. Jean Asis and Pontillas fueled a pivotal 5-0 surge that turned an 8-all deadlock into control for Galeries Tower.

Erika Raagas, subbing in for Gayle Pascual, delivered a crucial point to push the lead to 14-9. Moments later, Asis sealed the win with a push shot that survived a challenge, igniting celebration on the Highrisers’ bench.

Rookie Erika Deloria delivered a career-high 18 points and 15 excellent receptions, while Pascual also scored 18 against her former team. Pontillas contributed 11 points and 17 excellent digs, and Asis added 10 markers.

Coronel tallied eight points and earned her first Best Player of the Game citation, while libero Dolly Verzosa anchored the defense with 22 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions.

Galeries Tower improved to 1-1 and will face Farm Fresh on Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, aiming to build on the long-awaited breakthrough.

ZUS Coffee slipped to its second straight defeat. Arroyo led the Thunderbelles with 20 points, Nogales added 17, and Jovelyn Gonzaga posted a triple-double of 13 points, 18 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions. Gagate finished with 13, while Estoque chipped in 10 off the bench.

The Thunderbelles will try to halt their skid against Akari on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Filoil Centre.