Highrisers Snap Eight-Month Losing Spell in Siklab Series
Galeries Tower ended an eight-month regular tournament drought after surviving Akari in a dramatic five-set PVL Siklab battle. Erika Deloria scored 20 points as the Highrisers completed a 25-22, 26-24, 23-25, 15-25, 15-10 breakthrough victory.
Deloria Powers Galeries Tower Past Akari in Five Sets
Mark Escarlote of Daily Tribune detailed Deloria’s standout performance as Galeries Tower snapped its four-game losing streak against Akari. The outside hitter recorded 18 attacks and two aces while producing a match-high 28 excellent receptions across five sets.
Deloria also delivered five points during the deciding frame, helping Galeries Tower establish an early 7-3 advantage against the Chargers. Her all-around production led the Highrisers during a victory that finally ended their prolonged drought in regular PVL tournament competition.
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Highrisers Recover After Akari Takes Fifth-Set Lead
Akari erased Galeries Tower’s 7-3 fifth-set advantage with a 6-1 response, eventually moving ahead 9-8 during the deciding frame. Lycha Ebon and Jean Asis then helped fuel a decisive 5-0 counterattack that restored Galeries Tower’s advantage at 13-9.
“We’ve been through a lot and this win means a lot for us, because again we come here to compete. We’re training as hard as everybody else to win. We started 0-4 but we don’t want to give up and thankfully we got the win,” Deloria said.
“I think we just showed our composure. It’s a game and you can’t tell where the momentum will go. At the end of the day, we kept our composure and reminded each other that we have each other’s back,” Deloria said.
Galeries Tower Survives Akari’s Reverse-Sweep Threat
Galeries Tower captured the opening set 25-22 before overcoming a four-point deficit late during a tightly contested second frame. The Highrisers trailed 19-23 before closing with a 7-1 scoring burst to steal the second set, 26-24.
Akari responded after Galeries Tower reached 23-22 in the third, scoring three consecutive points for a 25-23 victory. The Chargers then opened the fourth set with a 7-1 advantage before dominating the frame 25-15 and forcing a decider.
Second-Set Comeback Proves Critical After Akari Rally
Galeries Tower’s 7-1 closing run in the second set secured a two-set advantage before Akari launched its comeback. That cushion ultimately kept the Highrisers level after Akari captured consecutive sets and forced the match into a fifth frame.
Asis and Bertolano Deliver Key Supporting Performances
Asis contributed 14 points through 12 attacks and two kill blocks while delivering important production during the deciding set. She joined Ebon during Galeries Tower’s pivotal 5-0 fifth-set response after Akari had moved ahead by one point.
Alyssa Bertolano added 12 points and 14 digs after entering from the bench during Galeries Tower’s five-set victory. Bertolano eventually delivered the match-winning attack through Akari’s block, completing the Highrisers’ breakthrough after two hours and 36 minutes.
Lamina and Versoza Add Setting and Defensive Support
Rookie setter Lams Lamina registered 21 excellent sets while coordinating Galeries Tower’s attack throughout the five-set contest against Akari. Dolly Versoza contributed 14 digs, adding defensive support alongside Bertolano’s 14 digs and Deloria’s match-high 28 excellent receptions.
“It’s a huge win for us because we’ll build our momentum on this for our next games and motivation for us, knowing that Akari is a strong team but we’re able to beat team. It’s a big boost for the team,” Asis said.
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Highrisers End Eight-Month PVL Regular Tournament Drought
Galeries Tower had not won a regular tournament match since defeating Capital1 during the All-Filipino Conference Play-in Tournament on March 24. The Highrisers later defeated Farm Fresh during the preseason PVL On Tour Showdown in Batangas on July 11.
Tuesday’s five-set victory therefore ended Galeries Tower’s eight-month drought specifically within regular PVL tournament competition after four Siklab defeats. Head coach Clarence Esteban welcomed the breakthrough while acknowledging that his team could have finished Akari considerably earlier.
Esteban Sees Room for Improvement After Breakthrough Win
Galeries Tower surrendered its two-set advantage before recovering during the decider, giving Esteban both encouragement and areas requiring improvement. His assessment acknowledged the victory while emphasizing that the Highrisers had opportunities to complete the match before five sets.
“We just motivated the team that since we got the first two sets, they just have to gut it out until the end. They responded well in the end but again it could’ve been a better result if we got it quicker. Still, a win is a win,” Esteban said.
Galeries Tower Improves Siklab Position as Akari Falls
The victory lifted Galeries Tower to solo eighth after the Highrisers opened their Siklab campaign with four consecutive defeats. Akari dropped to 2-3 following the loss, which also ended the Chargers’ previous two-match winning streak in the tournament.
The Chargers committed 28 errors despite recovering from a two-set deficit and briefly taking control during the deciding frame. Akari eventually surrendered a 9-8 fifth-set advantage as Galeries Tower responded with five unanswered points before completing the victory.
Chargers Drop to 2-3 After Committing 28 Errors
Akari surrendered 28 points through errors during a match featuring narrow margins across several sets and multiple momentum changes. The Chargers still forced a deciding frame but could not protect their 9-8 advantage after Galeries Tower’s decisive response.
Analytical Breakdown: Galeries Tower Needs Stronger Set Finishes
Galeries Tower showed valuable composure by recovering after surrendering a two-set advantage and absorbing Akari’s dominant fourth-set response. Deloria’s scoring and reception stability provided crucial balance, giving the Highrisers dependable production across both offensive and first-contact responsibilities. Building on this breakthrough requires stronger late-set consistency, preventing momentum swings from repeatedly turning comfortable advantages into extended matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led Galeries Tower against Akari?
Erika Deloria led Galeries Tower with 20 points, including 18 attacks and two aces, plus 28 excellent receptions.
What was the Galeries Tower-Akari final score?
Galeries Tower defeated Akari 25-22, 26-24, 23-25, 15-25, 15-10, completing its breakthrough victory after five competitive sets.
How long was Galeries Tower’s PVL drought?
Galeries Tower went eight months without winning a regular PVL tournament match before finally defeating Akari in five sets.
How did Galeries Tower perform in the fifth set?
Galeries Tower recovered from a 9-8 deficit with five unanswered points before eventually completing a 15-10 deciding-set victory.
What are the teams’ records after the match?
Galeries Tower snapped its four-game Siklab losing streak, while Akari dropped to 2-3 after consecutive previous victories.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from Sports Inquirer – Inquirer.net.
