MANILA, Philippines — For two years, the Capital 1 Solar Spikers had the three best picks in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
With the acquisition of Roma Mae Doromal and Leila Cruz in the 2024 PVL Draft, and now with UAAP three-time Most Valuable Player (PVL) Bella Belen, Capital 1 has to meet expectations or improve on its previous bottom finish.
And this time, the Jorge Souza De Brito-mentored squad set the tone right, heading to the next round of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Capital 1 took down the gutsy Galeries Tower Highrisers in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24, on Saturday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
“Look, if you're gonna try to answer for the guys who have a lot of expectation, you're gonna waste energy trying to do that,” he told the media during the post-game presser.
The former Alas Pilipinas head coach mentioned that aside from having talented players, it is fundamental to build the team’s chemistry.
“But right now, the expectation, even getting these players to our team, what is important, we need to build a team always. No matter who you get, because you're not the only one who gets stronger. The other team also gets stronger.”
“So, we have to keep on working, looking at our side, and try to come back later. This competition, I think, for the past few years, has been the tightest. The last one can beat the first one.”
Bella Belen led the Solar Spikers over the Highrisers with a triple-double performance of 23 pts, 14 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions, while France Ronquillo backed her up with 20 markers.
Chery Nunag and Sydney Niegos also put in the work after scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Galeries was led by Aiza Pontillas, who chimed in 17 points.
Both relegated to the play-in round, the Solar Spikers, who posted a 3-5 win-loss record, and the Highrisers, with a 2-7 record, will face each other once more in the play-in tournament set for Tuesday.
Capital 1 finished 11th in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the All-Filipino Conference, and made its best seventh-place finish in the 2024 and 2025 Reinforced.