SIZZLING START

Games on 25 July:

(Vigan City, Ilocos Sur)

4 p.m. — Nxled vs Capital1

6:30 p.m. — PLDT vs Choco Mucho

Erika Deloria played an inspired game and towed Galeries Tower to a 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, victory over Farm Fresh for a promising start in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Showdown Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

The sophomore hitter punched in 24 points built on 22 attacks and two aces while contributing on the defensive end with 13 excellent receptions and 10 digs for the Highrisers.

“It’s fulfilling (to be able to help the team). As we all know, Farm Fresh is one of the top contenders and a very strong team. I think all the hard work we did during the offseason is now paying off,” said the 20th overall pick in the 2025 Rookie Draft.

Galeries Tower showed composure down the stretch in the extended fourth set.

Deloria pushed the Highrisers up by two, 23-21, in the fourth set. Lyka Ebon gave Galeries Tower the matchpoint advantage, 24-22, after penetrating the Foxies’ two-man block.

Farm Fresh forced a deuce on back-to-back hits by Ces Molina and Riri Meneses and threatened to drag the match into a decider.

Ebon answered a down-the-line kill before Rose Baliton pounded a quick attack to seal the nearly two-hour showdown. The Foxies were unsuccessful on their net touch challenge on the game’s last play.

“I reminded my players that this will test the things we worked on during the preseason. It was a good result because of their desire to win,” Highrisers head coach Aying Esteban said.

“But of course, Farm Fresh is no easy opponent. They have good players. I’m just grateful to my players for putting effort into getting this game,” he added.

Main setter Julia Coronel dished out 21 excellent sets and scored four.

Top overall pick in the recent Draft Lams Lamina debuted with seven excellent sets off the bench for Galeries Tower, who outgunned Farm Fresh on attacks, 65-51.

Veteran lefty Aiza Maizo-Pontillas backstopped Deloria by scoring 11 of her 13 points in spikes while Jean Asis and Baliton added nine points each for the Highrisers’ balanced scoring.

Galeries Towers’ net defense frustrated the Foxies with reigning Season Most Valuable Player Trisha Tubu held down to just six points.

Farm Fresh outworked the Highrisers in the endgame of the nip-and-tuck second set.

Erika Raagas tied the frame at 24 for Galeries Tower but rookie Ann Asis committed a costly service error that gave the Foxies their second set point advantage. Mylene Paat-Rezanova put the second set away with a hit for a 1-1 match count.

Royse Tubino led the Foxies with 12 points while Ara Galang scored all of her 11 points on spikes. Paat-Rezanova finished with eight points.