Galeries Tower finally broke through, ending its four-match losing streak with a stirring 25-22, 26-24, 23-25, 15-25, 15-10 victory over Akari in a pulsating five-set showdown in the PVL All Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.
After coming agonizingly close to another heartbreaking defeat, the Highrisers rediscovered their composure when it mattered most, weathering the Chargers’ fightback before unleashing a decisive finishing kick in the fifth set to claim their first victory of the conference.
It was a roller-coaster encounter that swung wildly from one side to the other, with Galeries Tower taking the first two sets only to squander its advantage as the Chargers roared back to force a decider, the seventh five-setter of the series. But unlike in their previous outings, the Highrisers refused to buckle under pressure, delivering the clutch hits and crucial defensive stops to finally get over the hump.
The victory was particularly sweet for a team that had endured four straight defeats and last tasted success in March against Capital1 Solar Spikers.
Erika Deloria spearheaded the breakthrough with an all-around performance worthy of MVP consideration, tallying 20 points, 11 excellent digs and 28 excellent receptions to anchor the Highrisers on both ends of the floor.
Deloria, however, credited the team's collective resolve and composure rather than her individual numbers.
"We've been through a lot so this win means a lot to us," she said. "We came here to compete and play hard to win. Despite our 0-4 card, we refused to give up and we finally won."
For Deloria, the difference came down to keeping their heads when the match threatened to slip away.
"It boiled down to composure in the fifth set," she said. "It's a game, hindi mo alam kung hanggang saan yung momentum, so we just maintained our composure and reminded each other that we got each other's back."
The Highrisers certainly had their share of momentum swings to overcome.
After escaping a turnover-filled opening set and rallying from behind in the second, Galeries Tower appeared poised for a straight-set victory. But Akari refused to fold, snatching the third set after a late surge before overwhelming the Highrisers in the fourth to force a winner-take-all fifth.
The deciding frame proved a test of nerves, with the teams battling through five deadlocks and three lead changes.
Deloria initially seized control with a three-hit burst that broke a 3-all count and gave Galeries Tower a three-point cushion. Akari, however, clawed back, with Grethcel Soltones tying the count at 7 before Eli Soyud's off-speed hit sent the Chargers ahead at the changeover.
But this time, the Highrisers had the answer.
A Roselle Baliton push and a Lycha Ebon attack ignited a crucial 4-1 run, which Jean Asis capped with back-to-back hits – first capitalizing on an Akari overpass before dropping a clever ball into an open spot to put Galeries Tower firmly in command.
The Chargers tried to stop the bleeding through Fifi Sharma's quick attack, but Ebon answered with an off-the-block hit and a well-placed push, keeping Akari's defense on its heels.
With the Highrisers suddenly playing with renewed confidence, Alyssa Bertolano took charge in the clutch, scoring on a check ball before delivering the finishing blow with another powerful attack that sailed out of bounds, sealing the two-hour-and-22-minute battle and triggering a long-awaited celebration.
Asis chipped in 14 points, Bertolano added 12, while Ebon contributed eight crucial markers as Galeries Tower matched Akari's 67 attack points.
The Chargers held the edge at the net, 11-5, in blocks, while both teams finished with four aces. But the Highrisers made the most of Akari's costly miscues, capitalizing on 28 opponent errors ≠ four more than their own – while displaying the steadier finishing touch in the deciding set.
Soyud led Akari with 24 points, following her explosive 30-point performance against Farm Fresh, while Ivy Lacsina added 13. Sharma and Faith Nisperos chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Chargers saw their two-game winning run snapped to fall to 2-3.
Top rookie pick Lams Lamina also made her presence felt with 21 excellent sets, edging counterpart Mars Alba, who had 19. Bertolano, meanwhile, excelled in her former libero role with 14 excellent digs, matching Dolly Verzosa's output.
The match also added another milestone to an increasingly unpredictable opening series, becoming the seventh five-set encounter in the first of three tournaments that will culminate in the Grand Championship in March 2027.
For Galeries Tower, however, the most important number was its first victory – a hard-earned breakthrough that could finally provide the spark the Highrisers need to turn their campaign around.
