Against all odds, Galeries Tower staged one of the All-Filipino Conference’s most dramatic comebacks, edging the Capital1 Solar Spikers 25-16, 25-20, 30-28 in the PVL Play-In stage at the FilOil Centre on Tuesday, March 24. The Highrisers turned a near collapse into a defining victory, surviving multiple match points and a furious rally led by Bella Belen.

Highrisers’ grit shines in decisive moments

Galeries Tower entered the court with nerves of steel. After dropping the first two sets, the team faced mounting pressure in the third, yet refused to buckle. The Solar Spikers’ Bella Belen delivered 10 of her 21 points in the final set, keeping her team in striking distance. Even so, the Highrisers countered with strategic adjustments and unwavering belief.

Head coach Clarence Esteban’s in-game decisions proved crucial. Shifting to combination plays, Galeries Tower orchestrated a decisive kill from Gayle Pascual that sealed the match. Jean Asis led the charge with 17 points, including three blocks and two aces, earning Best Player of the Game honors. The team’s defensive coordination, particularly back-to-back blocks by Roselle Baliton on Belen, prevented Capital1 from closing out.

Teamwork and leadership power the comeback

Juju Coronel distributed 22 precise sets, while Pascual contributed 14 points, including the match-clinching hit. Veteran Aiza Pontillas added 12 points, stabilizing the team during critical stretches. Galeries Tower’s collective resilience overshadowed Capital1’s individual brilliance; Cherry Nunag scored seven points, and Leila Cruz and Shaya Adorador contributed five each, but the Solar Spikers struggled to match the Highrisers’ cohesion.

Entering the Play-In stage with only two wins in nine games, Galeries Tower seized their second chance with determination. Every spike, block, and set reflected the team’s refusal to surrender, culminating in a 1-hour, 35-minute battle that kept their season alive and set the stage for a showdown against the No. 5 Nxled Chameleons.