The Capital1 Solar Spikers celebrate against Farm Fresh in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, February 26, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
MANILA (UPDATED) -- Capital1 submitted a balanced scoring performance on its way to a bounce-back victory, outlasting Farm Fresh in a five-set marathon on Thursday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Solar Spikers proved that they were not a one-woman show in carving out a 26-24, 20-25, 28-26, 20-25, 15-11 triumph over the Foxies for their third win of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
The result gave Capital1 a 3-3 record, keeping them in the hunt for a place in the qualifying round of the tournament. It also put them back on the winning track after having been swept by Creamline in their previous assignment.
Unlike in their previous matches where star spiker Bella Belen did the heavy lifting on offense, this time Capital1 spread the wealth. Sydney Niegos earned Player of the Match effort for her 20-point output, while Shaya Adorador added 14 points.
Belen put up 23 points on 20 kills and three blocks, along with 12 digs and 19 receptions in a typically well-rounded performance. She also fired the match-winner to finally give Capital1 the victory after two hours and 28 minutes.
"Sabi po [namin] kanina before mag-start ang game, never pa namin natatalo ang Farm Fresh ever since nag-start ang Capital1," said Niegos in a TV interview after the match. "Lahat sila nagsigawan na, 'This is the day'."
"Nasa mindset ko po na talagang all-out lang po," she added.
The Solar Spikers opened the final set with four straight points before veterans Ces Molina and Ria Meneses helped the Foxies claw their way back. A Meneses hit tied the count at 10, but Capital1 responded immediately through Belen, who scored from the backrow.
That pipe attack touched off a 5-1 closing run by the Solar Spikers, with Ezra Madrigal putting them at match point by scoring off an overpass by the Foxies, 14-10. A service error by Adorador gave Farm Fresh a short reprieve, but Belen immediately ended their hopes with a crosscourt kill in the next rally.
Cherry Nunag and Ponggay Gaston also contributed eight points each for Capital, while Jasmine Nabor was credited with 24 excellent sets.
Squandered in the loss was a 30-point explosion by Trisha Tubu, built on 25 kills and five blocks. Molina finished with 20 points. Farm Fresh dropped to 2-3 in the conference.