Games on July 25

(Vigan, Ilocos Sur)

4 p.m. – Nxled vs Capital1

6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Choco Mucho

Galeries Tower hardly ever enjoys a winning start to a campaign, making Saturday’s breakthrough all the more significant.

Using explosive starts in the first and third sets to seize early control before displaying poise in a tense fourth-set battle, the Highrisers hacked out a hard-earned 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24 victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies in the PVL On Tour at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum on Saturday.

More than just a rare opening-game triumph, the victory hinted at a Galeries Tower squad finally capable of challenging the league’s established contenders after showing both firepower and composure in front of a roaring weekend crowd.

“Sinabi ko nga sa players ko na dito namin masusubukan ngayon ‘yung mga skills na pinaghirapan namin bago mag-start ‘yung season,” said head coach Clarence Esteban after the win.

“Maganda ‘yung nilabas nila nung game, dahil na rin sa kagustuhan nilang manalo nitong araw na ‘to. Pero syempre hindi basta-basta rin si Farm Fresh, so grateful ako sa mga players namin na nagpursigi para makuha namin ‘yung panalo,” Esteban added.

Roselle Baliton finished off the Highrisers’ one-hour, 57-minute victory with a quick attack off rookie setter Lams Lamina’s brilliant one-handed feed after a frantic rally that brought the appreciative Batangas fans to their feet.

Farm Fresh briefly halted Galeries Tower’s celebration by challenging for a possible net fault, but a quick video review confirmed that Baliton had stayed clear of the net before delivering the match-clinching hit, officially ending the gripping duel.

The victory allowed the Highrisers to join opening-day winners Creamline and ZUS Coffee atop the early standings, with the Thunderbelles seeking a second straight victory against Choco Mucho at presstime.

Galeries Tower laid the foundation for the victory by capitalizing on Farm Fresh’s lackluster starts in the opening and third sets.

The Foxies looked tentative and out of sync from the outset, allowing the Highrisers to dictate the pace behind a 7-0 run in the first set. Galeries Tower repeatedly converted on attacks while taking full advantage of Farm Fresh’s erratic play to establish the tempo and confidence that carried throughout the match.

The same script unfolded in the third frame.

Again slow out of the blocks, the Foxies quickly fell behind, 13-7, as the Highrisers unleashed another strong opening burst before comfortably restoring their two-sets-to-one advantage.

Ironically, Galeries Tower nearly surrendered control of the match because of its own struggles from the service line. The Highrisers actually out-attacked Farm Fresh, 15-12, in the second set but committed 13 errors – seven more than the Foxies – including six consecutive service miscues from an 8-all count that ultimately handed Farm Fresh the set.

The fourth set, however, showcased a different Galeries Tower.

Dragged into another pressure-packed exchange, the Highrisers never lost their composure.

Aiza Pontillas powered Galeries Tower to a 21-19 advantage with back-to-back attacks before the veteran duo of Royse Tubino and Mylene Paat-Rezanova answered with an attack and a block to level the count.

Jean Asis restored the lead with a quick hit before Erika Deloria blasted a down-the-line winner after a remarkable defensive stand. Lycha Ebon then countered another Tubino crosscourt attack to move the Highrisers to match point.

Ces Molina kept Farm Fresh alive with a power hit, while Riri Meneses converted a quick attack to force another extension.

But this time, Galeries Tower never wavered.

Ebon delivered another clutch kill through a double block before the Highrisers survived another fierce exchange. Lamina then showed nerves of steel, disguising a beautiful one-handed set that Baliton emphatically converted for the winner.

Deloria spearheaded the Highrisers with a dominant all-around performance of 24 points built on 22 attacks, while adding 10 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.

Pontillas turned back the clock with 13 points, while Asis and Baliton chipped in nine markers each. Ebon and Jade Gentapa added seven points apiece as Galeries Tower overwhelmed Farm Fresh in attacks, 65-51.

Last season’s MVP Trisha Tubu was held to just six points in limited three-set action for the Foxies.

Tubino paced Farm Fresh with 12 points, Ara Galang finished with 11, while Paat-Rezanova contributed eight.

The Highrisers also dominated the blocking department, 9-4, with Ebon and Asis accounting for two blocks each, offsetting the 28 points they surrendered on errors –seven more than Farm Fresh.

While rookie Lamina delivered the match’s biggest set, veteran playmaker Jules Coronel orchestrated Galeries Tower’s offense for most of the match, tallying 21 excellent sets, while Louie Romero finished with 13 for the Foxies.