IRON LADIES: Capital1 survives ZUS Coffee in 5-set thriller

Games tomorrow:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

1 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs Nxled

3:30 p.m. — NU-Archipelago Builders vs Alpha Insurance

6 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Choco Mucho

Capital1 is turning into the iron ladies of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Season 10.

For the third straight game, the Solar Spikers went to a five-setter as they outlasted ZUS Coffee, 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8, for back-to-back wins in the All-Filipino Conference Siklab series on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Bella Belen once again filled the stats box with a third straight triple-double, putting in monster numbers of 29 points, 16 digs and 15 excellent receptions to lead Capital1.

The Solar Spikers used a couple of decisive runs midway through the fourth set and in the deciding frame to complete the comeback for a 2-1 win-loss record.

“A win is a win. Of course, we like it to be in four or three but we accept the challenge that you have to grow and you have to always fight inside the court and create chemistry for this e team,” Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza De Brito.

Belen scored 25 of her points on attacks for Capital1. Vanie Gandler had 12 markers in just three sets of play while Erika Santos finished with 12 points, all from kills, for the Solar Spikers.

Cherry Nunag chipped in eight points, libero Detdet Pepito tallied 23 digs while playmaker Jasmine Nabor dished out 14 excellent sets for Capital1. Julia Coronel added 13 excellent sets.

“We’re just telling each other that we’re already here so the opportunity to win is still open so we really wanted to grab it because we really went through so much just to make it to the fifth set,” Gandler said.

Belen ignited Capital1’s closing 9-2 run that shattered a 6-6 deadlock in the fifth set.

The National University product smashed the go-ahead kill followed by a Gandler kill and a miscue by the Thunderbelles. Rachel Anne Daquis stopped ZUS Coffee’s bleeding but an off speed by Belen sparked another run as Capital1 built a 13-7 advantage.

An attack error by Belen gave the Thunderbelles their last point of the match as a Nunag runner pushed the Solar Spikers at match point. Santos sealed the two-hour, 26-minute match with a crosscourt kill.

“I’m really happy. I’m proud of them because it’s not easy. It’s another comeback. We need to show up. But we are back here (in the postgame press conference) and always good when you come here because you win. So, it’s okay,” De Brito said.

Capital1 was buried to a 1-2 match deficit and was trailing, 13-16, in the fourth frame.

The Solar Spikers mounted a massive 7-1 counterattack to grab a 20-17 advantage after a Nunag running kill.