Nine days after setting the highest scoring output in a Premier Volleyball League game, Capital1 import Marina Tushova shattered the record books once more, amassing 49 points to will her team back from two sets down and orchestrate a reverse sweep of Nxled in Pool D of the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
The legend of Tushova in the country’s pioneering volleyball league continues to grow as she delivered another PVL-high 46 kills with a 51 percent attack rate on top of two aces and a kill block to lead the Solar Spikers to a come-from-behind 20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 15-6 win over the Chameleons on Saturday evening at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Russian spiker has emerged as one of the most prolific scorers to ever play in the PVL after surpassing her 45-point record against Choco Mucho to eclipse Akari’s Dominican import Prisilla Rivera’s 44 in 2022.
Tushova's consistent performance and impressive display of scoring prowess earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of August 6 to 10.
For the 25-year-old hitter, however, her scoring output represents more than a personal milestone, it’s a testament to her continuous evolution albeit nursing a right-hand injury.
“It means a lot, it means that this girl one week ago, it was another girl and it means I’m improving, really,” said Tushova, who set the top two scoring records in a span of 10 days.
“I did a good job, we did a good job together, and today I felt like I’m on my game. I didn’t feel like I was somewhere else. I’m just attacking and cannot score, sometimes, but I was more comfortable on the court and more confident.”
Tushova, who scored 32 points against ZUS Coffee to cap the first round on Tuesday, was unanimously voted by the beat reporters from print and online news outlets for the second week in a row, besting Akari pair Oly Okaro and Grethcel Soltones, Petro Gazz’s Wilma Salas, PLDT’s Lena Samoilenko, Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons, and Chery Tiggo’s Ara Galang.
The stars aligned for Capital1 as the 6-foot spiker was able to realize her dream to compete in the Philippines, spelling the difference for the Solar Spikers’ rise from cellar-dwellers to contenders in the midseason tournament, which is streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live App and www.pvl.ph.
“It was my goal to play here. I got an invitation a few years ago but we didn’t meet on the agreement between the team. I was really looking for a team here, so they [Capital1] found me,” said Tushova.
“It’s a great exper ience. I love to see people, I want to meet new people. This [kind of experience] you can’t learn [it] every day. It’s so good.”
Playing through a minor hand injury she sustained in practice, Capital1’s go-to ace captivated volleyball fans with her professionalism, earning high praise from coach Roger Gorayeb.
“I’m just happy. As I’ve said before, I would rather see Marina on our side than play against her,” Gorayeb said. “She’s always there to play no matter what. That’s how professional players should be. and she’s very professional. Alam niya the team needs her, that’s why whatever happens she plays.”
Carrying a franchise-best three-game winning streak for a 4-2 record, Tushova and the Solar Spikers are a win away from their first-ever PVL playoffs, gunning to seal a quarterfinal berth against Farm Fresh on Thursday.
