In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Galeries Tower pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Premier Volleyball League history, storming into the quarterfinals of the All-Filipino Conference with a commanding 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19 triumph over powerhouse Cignal at the Philsports Arena on Thursday.
From the outset, the Highrisers played with relentless aggression, overwhelming the stunned the third ranked HD Spikers with their unyielding attacking game. Andrea Marzan’s quick attack granted Galeries Tower five match points, setting the stage for France Ronquillo’s decisive crosscourt hit that sealed the two-hour, six-minute shocker.
Ranked 10th and given little chance by many, Galeries Tower never wavered, proving their worth with a fearless display of skill and determination. Their electrifying victory not only sent shockwaves across the league but also eclipsed BaliPure’s legendary upset over Creamline during the pandemic-era bubble tournament.
The Highrisers erupted in celebration, as if they had just won the championship—an emotion fueled by the magnitude of their triumph. For most, this reversal was unthinkable, but for Galeries Tower and coach Lerma, it was a statement: they belong among the league’s elite.
"Floating in heaven... very grateful—everything we went through, all our tears, blood, and sweat were worth it because we faced so many challenges before this game. Since January, it was loss after loss after loss. Then we came to the realization that, wait, this can’t go on. But everything is a process—we really studied Cignal’s movements. So, thank You, Lord, all glory to God," Giron said in Filipino, her voice filled with emotion.
Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo led the way in the historic win, lifting Galeries to its long-awaited breakthrough.
Jimenez delivered a career-best performance, exploding for a game-high 23 points, including 22 attacks. Ronquillo backed her up with 20 points built on 18 attacks, an ace, and a block, while also contributing 13 excellent receptions.
Rookie Jewel Encarnacion made her presence felt with 11 points and 13 excellent receptions, while Roselle Baliton and Andrea Marzan chipped in eight points apiece.
Defensive specialist Alyssa Eroa anchored the floor defense with 28 excellent digs, while Fhen Emnas, who replaced Julia Coronel in the fourth set, stepped up with 14 excellent sets and 10 excellent digs.
Galeries pulled away late in the fourth set, with Encarnacion and Baliton igniting a 3-0 run that stretched their 19-13 lead to 22-15. From there, the Highrisers remained in control, with Baliton, Marzan, and Ronquillo sealing the victory after two hours and six minutes of play.
The Highrisers dominated the first two sets, leading by as many as eight points, 19-13, in the opener before storming to a commanding 15-5 start in the second frame, leaving the HD Spikers struggling to mount a meaningful comeback.
Cignal, however, refused to go down without a fight, taking a dominant 25-19 win in the third set before Galeries regrouped and closed out the match in the fourth.
The Highrisers will begin their quarterfinals campaign on March 15, facing the winner of the Akari-Farm Fresh matchup.
Vanie Gandler led Cignal with 17 points, while rookie Ishie Lalongisip posted an all-around effort with 13 points, 12 excellent digs, and 11 excellent receptions. Jackie Acuña also chipped in 13 markers.
Gel Cayuna distributed 21 excellent sets and added eight points, but it wasn't enough to prevent the upset.
Cignal also suffered a major setback early in the fourth set when Jovelyn Fernandez went down with an apparent neck injury after a collision with Lalongisip during a dig attempt.
The HD Spikers will now enter the play-in stage, where they will battle for one of the last two quarterfinals spots.
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