Galeries Tower, Choco Mucho keep seasons alive as PVL Play-In pressure produces breakthrough performances

Survival, not seeding, has become the true currency in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Play-In on Tuesday as two teams proved they have plenty left to spend.

At the FilOil Centre in San Juan, the postseason’s backdoor route turned into a stage for reinvention. Lower-ranked squads, once on the brink of elimination, flipped the narrative and showed that momentum can outweigh rankings when everything is on the line.

The biggest statement came from Galeries Tower, the No. 9 seed that refused to play like an underdog. Facing a higher-ranked Capital1 side, the Highrisers swept their way to a 25-16, 25-20, 30-28 victory.

Galeries leaned on collective firepower and cohesion. Their system clicked at the right time, with multiple scoring options stretching Capital1’s defense thin. The result was a composed, confident performance that looked more like a team peaking than one merely trying to survive.

Meanwhile, Capital1’s star player Bella Belen once again carried the offensive load with 21 points, but with no other player reaching double digits, the imbalance proved costly in a win-or-go-home scenario. The victory sends Galeries into a tougher test against the NXLed Chameleons.

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2026 PVL ALL-FILIPINO CONFERENCE

Two teams out and one step forward in the stepladder Play-In tournament after today’s matches Qualifying matches on Thursday & Play-In on Saturday. #PVL2026 #pvlallfilipinoconference#TheHeartOfVolleyball #volleyball pic.twitter.com/za2F9L6U9q

— VOLLEYBALLnatics (@VBALLnatics) March 24, 2026

If Galeries’ win was about control, Choco Mucho’s triumph in the nightcap was about resilience. Dragged into a grueling five-set duel by ZUS Coffee, the Flying Titans had to rediscover their rhythm multiple times before pulling off a 21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 15-11 escape. 

The match unfolded like a test of endurance, with momentum swinging wildly before Choco Mucho found its footing when it mattered most.

Sisi Rondina once again proved to be the heartbeat of the team, delivering a near all-around masterpiece with 27 points alongside heavy defensive contributions. While Maddie Madayag, Eya Laure, Kat Tolentino, and Deanna Wong all played crucial roles, giving the squad a more complete shape at the perfect time.

For ZUS Coffee, the loss marked the end of a difficult campaign. Despite flashes of promise from Riza Nogales and Thea Gagate, consistency remained elusive throughout the tournamen.

As the Play-Ins progress, the stakes only get higher—but so does the level of belief for the teams still standing.

Galeries Tower now heads into its next matchup with growing confidence, while Choco Mucho prepares for a showdown against the Akari Chargers with renewed chemistry.

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