The Galeries Tower Highrisers. PVL Media Bureau
RODRIGUEZ, RIZAL (UPDATED) — Galeries finally claimed a win, reaping the benefits of its offseason buildup.
The Highrisers averted disaster against Zus Coffee, 25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 15-10, to taste its first win not just in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference, but since February 27, 2025.
Their last win was against Cignal during the qualifying round of the 2024-25 All-Filipino tilt, and they became winless since then in the 2025 On Tour and 2025 Reinforced tournaments.
The Galeries' rebuild before this conference is proving to be beneficial as it broke through after almost a year of not having victories, snapping a 17-game losing streak.
During the offseason, they signed veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Erika Deloria, Erika Raagas, Shola Alvarez, Shola Alvarez, among others — and they immediately made an impact in just their second game.
"Siyempre, nag-select kami at nakita namin sila 'yung best players na talagang para sa team," said coach Aying Esteban during the postgame interview.
"Masaya kami, kaming lahat kasi 'yung pinaghihirapan namin kahit na short time lang 'yung pagsasama namin is nagre-react sila do'n sa ginagawa naming system. So, very happy ako do'n sa resulta namin ngayong araw."
Deloria and Pascual delivered 18 points each, while holdover Julia Coronel orchestrated that offense with 16 excellent sets to go with eight points.
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Maizo-Pontillas contributed 11 points and 17 excellent digs while Jean Asis also breached twin-digit scoring with 10.
They also pounced on the absence of coach Jerry Yee, as assistant coach Onyok Getigan called the shots for the Thunderbelles.
"Sobrang happy ako sa team tonight na kumapit talaga kaming lahat. And sa coaches na patuloy na nagga-guide sa amin, kahit may mga times na nawawala kami sa sistema, patuloy pa rin sila na nagre-remind sa amin na bumalik dun sa game plan namin," said Coronel.
Sitting on a 2-0 lead, the Highrisers had a chance to close it out in Set 3 after climbing back and reaching 23-22, as Jovelyn Gonzaga's attack went out. However, a Riza Nogales quick hit and Wewe Estoque into-the-block kill kept the Thunderbelles in the hunt, claiming that frame and the succeeding one.
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The Highrisers found the breakaway with a 5-0 run from the 8-all count in Set 5, thanks to Asis' hits and Thea Gagate's attack error and Galeries' successful reaching beyond challenge on the 2024 top overall pick.
Raagas put Galeries on match point after finding the spot, and Asis found the line that concluded the two-hour, 33-minute volleyball affair.
Meanwhile, the Thunderbelles are now down 0-2 in the conference after this loss. Chinnie Arroyo paced the losing crew with 20 points, while Gonzaga and Gagate had 13 markers each.
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