After failing to secure a single set win in its first four matches, Galeries Tower finally broke through with not just one, but three set victories on Saturday night as the Highrisers staged a remarkable comeback to drub the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 17-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 15-10, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
Trailing, 1-2, in sets and 15-17 in the fourth, the Highrisers mounted a spirited comeback led by Grazielle Bombita and Anne Esquerra, clinching the set with a decisive closing 10-2 run to force a decider.
Galeries Tower then capitalized on Capital1’s slow start in the fifth, scoring eight of the first 11 points. Although the Solar Spikers fought back, narrowing the gap to 10-13 on Lourdes Clemente's heroics, the Highrisers held their ground and sealed the victory with key plays from Esguerra and Bombita.
The two-hour, 20-minute win marked a significant milestone for Galeries Tower, which tied Capital1 at ninth place with 1-4 cards.
Fhen Emnas played a key role in the victory, showcasing her leadership on the court with 21 excellent sets and contributing seven points in only the second game that went the distance in 26 matches in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Choco Mucho also rallied to nip Petro Gazz in an epic five-set clash last Feb. 27.
“It’s a very important win for us. This will boost our confidence,” said Emnas, who also underlined the importance of composure and leadership in their game plan.
From an 8-3 advantage in the fifth, the Highrisers extended their lead to eight on another 5-2 roll, looking headed to a cruise on an RJ Doromal power hit.
But the Solar Spikers finally hit their stride, albeit late, with Clemente single-handedly giving the team some hopes with a four-point spree.
A Janeca Lana off-the-block hit put Capital1 back in the hunt at 10-13.
That was, however, the closest that the Solar Spikers could get as the Highrisers came out of another huddle determined to finish off their rivals with Esguerra ending their scoring spell with a quick attack and Bombita sealing their victory by thwarting Lana’s attack.
The Highrisers will take a week-long rest before facing the Strong Group Athletics next Saturday in Antipolo, aiming to build on their new-found momentum in the league.
It was sorry setback for Capital1, which faltered midway through the fourth set and turned cold at the start of the fifth, enabling the Highrisers to pile up points after points and post a commanding lead.
Doromal top-scored for Galeries Tower with 14 points while Bombita delivered 12 markers, Esguerra and Audrey Paran matched nine-point outputs, and Dimdim Pacres and Andrea Marzan contributed six points apiece.
Patty Orendain dished out a match-high 19-point effort but slowed down in the last two sets while Clemente and Aiko Urdas added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Capital1, which also drew six points from Heather Guino-o and five markers each from Sydney Niegos and skipper Jorelle Singh.
