PVL: Capital1 stuns Choco Mucho; ZUS completes first-round sweep in Reinforced Conference

Surging Capital1 claimed another huge victory in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference after shocking powerhouse Choco Mucho in a sweep, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Solar Spikers picked up where they left off from their previous straight-sets win against Cignal last Friday to improve to 3-2 in Pool A while the Flyting Titans fell to a 20-3 card. 

Capital1 and Choco Mucho kept it close in the third frame, but the Solar Spikers had to cross their fingers after star rookie Bella Belen hurt her ankle following an attack from the left wing, forcing the former UAAP MVP to sit out the rest of the game with her side protecting a 15-14 lead. 

But that didn't dampen Capital1's hope as import Oleksandra Bytsenko and middle blocker Rachel Austero provided the finishing spark for a 20-17 cushion. Isa Molde then committed an attack error before a miscommunication from the Flying Titans allowed Capital1 to gain a much-needed 22-17 advantage. 

Bytsenko finished it off with back-to-back kills, including a down-the-line hit that delivered the match point at 24-18. The Ukrainian import capped it off with a drop ball as Capital1 completed the upset win. 

In the first game, ZUS Coffee shrugged off a slow start to eke out a 23-25, 22-25, 25-23 25-12, 15-7 win against Akari and remain perfect after the first-round battle. 

American import Anna DeBeer hammered out 33 points together with 12 receptions while Jovelyn Gonzaga and Riza Nogales each chipped in 11 markers to lead the local support as they swept the first round with a clean 5-0 slate in Pool B. 

Annie Mitchem paced the Chargers with 27 points and 17 receptions.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News