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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Highrisers stun HD Spikers, book quarters berth; Cool Smashers advance

Highrisers stun HD Spikers, book quarters berth; Cool Smashers advance

Published Feb 27, 2025 11:04 am

At A Glance

  • Galeries Tower played the best game of its life -- so far -- when it stunned fancied Cignal, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, Feb. 27.

Galeries Tower played the best game of its life -- so far -- when it stunned fancied Cignal, 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, Feb. 27.

PVL AFC 25 Cignal vs. Galeries - -9549.jpg

Coming to the game as underdogs with their 10th seeding, the Highrisers caught their third-seeded rivals off-guard with their hard-hitting attacks anchored on Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo.

It was a shocking moment for Galeries Tower, which finished the preliminaries with a single win against 10 losses, as its quarterfinals stint already gave them its best finish so far since joining the league in 2023.

Out of the four conferences they played, the Highrisers finished 11th twice and 10th once.

So impressive were Galeries Tower that even Jimenez couldn’t believe they had achieved the feat after a tense two-hour action.

“Wala akong masabi, sobrang worth it lahat ng pagod. Kung alam nyo lang yung dami ng pinagdaanan namin. Pero sabi nga nila, everything happens for a reason,” said Jimenez, who pumped in 23 points off 22 kills.

“Kung pwede lang kaming lahat ang Player of the Game,” she added after later being adjudged as Player of the Game.

Defying odds, the Highrisers assaulted the HD Spikers by unleashing 67 attacks -- 40 coming from Jimenez and Ronquillo -- while also posting seven blocks. They managed to give up 21 points on unforced errors, but made up for their superb floor defense headed by Alyssa Eroa and Fen Emnas.

Cignal showed signs of life by taking the third frame, but Galeries Tower remained unfazed, returning in the fourth set more determined and aggressive on all fronts.

Vanie Gandler scored 17 points, while Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuna had 13 points apiece in a losing effort for Cignal, which was relegated to the round-robin losers bracket staking two quarters berths.

In the nightcap, Creamline reaffirmed its mastery over Nxled with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-17 victory to join Galeries Tower in the quarters.

Everybody contributed a little of everything for the defending champion Cool Smashers with Bea De Leon leading the charge with 12 points highlighted by five blocks.

Tots Carlos, Michele Gumabao and Pangs Panaga also provided offensive assault and combined for 23 points.

Like Cignal, Nxled was relegated to the losers bracket in a fight for the two quarters berths.

Related Tags

pvl all filipino conference
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