Capital1 capitalized on Strong Group’s struggle late in the fourth set, hacking out a 25-18, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20 victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Tuesday.
In a clash of the league’s newcomers, the Solar Spikers showcased their superiority in firepower and blocking, overcoming challenges in the third frame to relish the sweet taste of victory after two prior defeats.
Skipper Jorelle Singh, who led Capital1’s charge with 13 points, including 12 on attacks, expressed the team’s happiness with their first win while underlining its positive impact on their confidence.
“We expect to perform even better in our upcoming games,” added the veteran campaigner.
She acknowledged a lapse in communication in the third set that enabled the Athletics to stay in the game. But they regrouped in the fourth, pouncing on their opponents’ miscues in the stretch to pound out the victory.
“Syempre masaya kasi alam niyo naman itong team na ito less than two months pa lang kami. Every day, every practice, every game is a learning process for us” said multi-titled Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb.
“It’s a time for us to know each other kung ano man ang kailangan namin idagdag. Yung ganitong panalo makakapagboost ng morale namin sa mga susunod naming laro,” he added.
Orendain backed Singh with nine markers while Arianne Layug and Ja Lana matched eight-point outputs, Cathrina DIzon added six points and Heather Guino-o and Shyra Umandal finished with five points apiece for the Solar Spikers, who led in all scoring departments, spikes (52-48), blocks (7-3) and aces (5-4).
They also scored 30 points off the Athletics' unforced errors while conceding 28 miscues of their own.
Strong Group, which drew 12 points from Mary Joy Onofre, 11 points from Dolly Verzosa and a combined 31-point output from Jana Cane, Sheeka Espinosa, Justine Rebleza and Merry Rose Jauculan, fell to 0-3.
The Athletics kept the game close in the fourth, rallying from a 13-19 deficit to threaten at 18-20. But the Solar Spikers, determined to seal the win, countered with strategic plays.
After the two teams traded errors, Orendain scored on a lob shot over two defenders and Layug hammered in a through-the-block hit, providing Capital1 a four-point cushion.
Although the Athletics mounted a late comeback with a 5-1 run, the Solar Spikers kept their composure.
Rebleza’s power hit was countered by Umandal’s defensive prowess, foiling Verzosa’s attack in a long exchange and putting the Solar Spikers at match point.
A crucial error by the Athletics on the first ball sealed their fate, allowing Layug to deliver a match-clinching spike, concluding the one-hour, 48-minute duel.
The victory not only marked Capital1’s first in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision but also served as a morale boost for the team moving forward.
