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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider High-stakes showdown in PVL

High-stakes showdown in PVL

Published Mar 23, 2026 02:32 pm

At A Glance

  • The Highrisers and the Solar Spikers clash at 4 p.m., followed by the Thunderbelles taking on the Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m., in a pair of do-or-die matches.
Bella Belen for Capital1. (PVL Images)
Bella Belen for Capital1. (PVL Images)
Four teams battle for survival as Galeries Tower takes on Capital1, while ZUS Coffee faces Choco Mucho to kick off the play-in stepladder phase of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday, March 24, at the Filoil Centre in San Juan City.
The Highrisers and the Solar Spikers clash at 4 p.m., followed by the Thunderbelles taking on the Flying Titans at 6:30 p.m., in a pair of do-or-die matches.
The victor between Galeries Tower and Capital1 will advance to face Nxled, while the winner of ZUS Coffee-Choco Mucho duel will take on Akari in the next round.
Capital1 and Choco Mucho enter the play-ins buoyed by recent four-set wins over Galeries Tower and ZUS Coffee in the preliminaries, but they know better than to rest on their laurels at this crucial stage.
Meanwhile, the Solar Spikers are confident in leaning on their star player Bella Belen, the conference’s leading scorer, who recently exploded for a triple-double performance of 23 points, 14 digs and 15 receptions against the Highrisers.
Fance Ronquillo, Sydney Niegos and Cherry Nunag have also shown support to Belen with double-digit contributions, and are expected to ride on that momentum to keep their campaign alive.
Galeries Tower, for its part, is expected to avenge that recent defeat, banking on veteran Aiza Pontillas to join forces with Gayle Pascual, Jean Asis and Erika Deloria at the frontline.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho boasts a loaded roster led by Sisi Rondina, supported by a cast composed of Kat Tolentino, Lorraine Pecana, Maddie Madayag and Des Cheng.
ZUS Coffee, however, has Riza Nogales, currently the leading blocker, along with leading best receiver Alyssa Eroa, Thea Gagate and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
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