PVL: Capital1 stuns Cignal in straight sets

The Capital1 Solar Spikers pulled off an upset in straight sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21, in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Friday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

Import Oleksandra Bytsenko and rookie Bella Belen joined forces for Capital1, with the Ukrainian reinforcement finishing with 23 points built on 22 attacks, while Belen added 11 points.

Katrin Trebichavska was the lone double-digit scorer for the Super Spikers with 22 points, while Erika Santos led the local players with nine.

“I'm very happy and very proud of them because we worked as a team. Since the first point, we knew we had a plan and we followed it. Even when we had to make some changes, we did. We adjusted as a team, especially in the third set,” said Solar Spikers head coach Jorge De Brito.

“Even when they made adjustments, we were able to build a big lead. Then they got super close, but their intention was to minimize our spikers. We adjusted at the right moment. I’m happy about that — and the tournament is just beginning,” he added.

With the victory, Capital1 improved to 2-2, while Cignal ended its first-round campaign with a 2-3 record.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News