Highrisers shocks Solar Spikers to advance in play-ins

In a stunning upset, ninth-ranked Galeries Tower toppled No. 8 Capital1, 25-16, 25-20, 30-28, to move deeper into the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference stepladder play-ins on Tuesday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

The victory sets up a clash with fifth-seeded Nxled Chameleons this Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, as the Highrisers aim for a shot at the final step of the play-in.

The win was especially sweet for Galeries Tower, snapping a five-game losing streak and avenging their four-set defeat to Capital1 in last Saturday’s preliminary round.

“Talagang pinaghandaan din namin talaga ’tong laban na ’to. Siyempre, nandito na kami, so ginrab na lang namin 'tong opportunity na 'to, which is gumanda naman 'yung galaw ng mga players namin. Kahit yung linggo, hiniram na namin para lang makapag-training kami nang maayos. Worth naman yung sakripisyo na ginawa namin,” said Highrisers head coach Aying Esteban.

Galeries Tower looked poised to wrap the match after claiming the first two sets.

With the Highrisers up 23-20 in the third, 2025 second overall pick Jean Asis scored three consecutive points, but Capital1’s 2025 top overall selection Bella Belen sparked a furious comeback.

Belen led a 5-1 run that tied the set at 24-24 and kept the Solar Spikers in contention.

The Highrisers, however, held their nerve.

After trading points in the tense final moments, Asis blocked Belen at the net, and Gayle Pascual finished the set with a clever combination play to secure a 1-hour, 35-minute victory.

Julia Coronel orchestrated Galeries Tower’s offense with 22 precise sets, enabling four players to reach double-digit scoring.

Asis led the team with 17 points on 12 attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Pascual added 14 points, while Aiza Pontillas contributed 12 points and nine digs.

Roselle Baliton also reached double figures with 11 points, including four blocks.

For Capital1, the scoring burden fell heavily on Belen, who tallied 21 points on 20-of-71 spikes, along with 12 digs and nine receptions.

The rest of the team struggled to contribute offensively, with Cherry Nunag scoring seven points and Leila Cruz and Shaya Adorador adding five points each.

With this momentum, Galeries Tower looks poised to continue its giant-killing run in the PVL stepladder.