Capital1 Turns the Tables, Stuns Galeries Behind Bytsenko’s Fire and Yandoc’s Breakout Moment

on
by Misha Cruz

Capital 1 Solar Spikers
Capital 1 Solar Spikers. Photo: PVL Images.

Capital1 could’ve folded. 

After a shaky opener and a nearly disastrous follow-up set, the Solar Spikers looked like they were about to let another match slip away. But instead of crumbling, they snapped back hard, pulling off a gritty 12-25, 29-27, 25-19, 25-18 comeback win over Galeries Tower in the final day of the PVL Reinforced Conference prelims on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The entire night flipped at Set 2’s breaking point.

Down 21-24 and one error away from a 0-2 hole, Capital1 suddenly caught fire. Sasha Bytsenko, Bella Belen, and Sydney Niegos led a three-point burst to force a deuce, then hung on through a pulse-raising exchange of match points until the Solar Spikers finally stole the frame. That escape didn’t just save their night; it completely rewrote the match energy.

With momentum finally on their side, Capital1 tightened up its defense, cleaned up its coverage, and turned Galeries’ early confidence into panic. By the fourth set, the Solar Spikers were running the floor with conviction. And fittingly, it was Bytsenko, who played like she wanted to set the scoreboard on fire, who hammered the final point, finishing with a massive 35 markers.

Capital1's Nika Yandoc
Capital1's Nika Yandoc. Photo: PVL Images.

The win lifted Capital1 to 4-4, good for seventh place for the moment, and kept them in play for a potential rise depending on the PLDT–Petro Gazz result later in the day.

But if Bytsenko was the unstoppable scorer, the emotional center of the win belonged to young setter Nikka Yandoc.

Subbing in for veteran Iris Tolenada, Yandoc delivered 19 excellent sets and a level of composure that felt way beyond her years. She steadied the attack when the match felt chaotic, organized their transitions, and most importantly, played fearlessly.

Her breakout earned her her first-ever Best Player of the Game award… and a tearful moment she couldn’t hold back.

“This is for you, Mom,” she said, crying as she dedicated the win to the woman cheering her on from the stands. She later added that her courage on the court came from her team’s trust: “Nagtiwala lang sila. Sabi nila, basta ibigay ko lang ang bola, they’ll find a way.”

Ysa Jimenez (3) spikes the ball against Bella Belen (4)
Ysa Jimenez (3) spikes the ball against Bella Belen (4). Photo: PVL Images.

Belen added 14 points, while Niegos contributed seven, including the clutch block that sealed Set 2, arguably the biggest turning point of the match.

Galeries Tower tried to keep pace with Jelena Cvijovic (18), France Ronquillo (17), Jean Asis (12), and Ysa Jimenez (11), but after blowing the second-set advantage, their confidence evaporated. They end their campaign at 0-8.