Sasha Bytsenko and Bella Belen kept Capital1 in the race for the top three in Pool A after stopping Cignal, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Friday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Bytsenko fired 23 points from a 22-of-56 attacking clip and had 12 excellent receptions, while rookie Belen had 11 points and 14 digs to push the Solar Spikers’ record to 2-2.
‘We prepared and worked hard for this game. I’m really happy because we were able to apply our game plan today. It wasn’t just about individual effort, it was truly a team effort,’ said Belen in Filipino. ‘We supported each other not only through scoring points but also in other skills and areas. I’m just really happy because all the hard work we put in over the past 10 days has finally paid off.’
Capital1 has a chance to get the third spot in Pool A when it battles Choco Mucho, which is currently 2-1 with an ongoing match against Farm Fresh, on November 4 at Mall of Asia Arena. The top three teams of Pool A battle the bottom three of Pool B.
Leila Cruz also stepped up with eight points. Iris Tolenada paced the Solar Spikers with 16 excellent sets and had four points, while libero Roma Mae Doromal had 15 digs and 14 receptions.
‘I’m very happy and very proud of them because we work as a team. Since the first point, we knew we had a plan and we followed. And even if we had to make some changes, we did. We adjusted the team, especially in the third set,’ said Capital1 coach Jorge Souza De Brito. ‘Even if they make adjustments there, we get a big distance. And then they got super close. We adjusted at the right moment.’
Cignal finished Pool A with a 2-3 record. It faces ZUS Coffee, Creamline, and either Akari or Petro Gazz in another round robin.
Katrin Trebichavska carried the Super Spikers with 22 points. Erika Santos was limited to nine points, as Rose Doria Aquino added eight. Vanie Gandler also returned to action but only saw limited action in the first two sets with two points.