Roselle Baliton sparks Galeries Tower breakthrough in stunning upset of Nxled

A signature win often arrives when a team needs belief the most—and for Galeries Tower Highrisers, that moment came behind the breakout performance of Roselle Baliton.

Unshaken by the firepower of the previously surging Nxled Chameleons, Baliton turned the net into her territory, powering the Highrisers to a statement 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 25-21 victory Thursday night in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

More than just an upset, the win hinted at a culture shift for a franchise long searching for consistency.

Baliton anchored the defensive stand with seven kill blocks—part of a balanced stat line that included seven attacks and two aces in the one-hour, 53-minute battle that pushed Galeries Tower to a 2-2 record, keeping them within reach of their best elimination-round finish.

“Ika nga, bilog ang bola, so ayun, laban lang,” said the 6-foot middle blocker after the win.

For a player who has stayed with the team through rebuilding stretches and difficult losses, the performance carried deeper meaning than the numbers.

Despite her standout showing, Baliton emphasized that the victory reflected collective growth rather than individual output.

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GIANT-SLAYING HIGHRISERS

Roselle Baliton and the Galeries Tower Highrisers pull off a stunning four-set victory over Nxled, handing the Chameleons their first loss of the preliminaries with a bold statement win in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/GJv7QeRh6c

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) February 19, 2026

“Ang ano naman, kumbaga team effort siya. So, doon kami nagtindig na namin na kung ano talaga yung kayang ibigay ng team na kapag nagtulong-tulong, nagsasabay-sabay na mga lumalagas talaga na kaya naman talaga,” she said.

The Highrisers’ energy at the net disrupted Nxled’s rhythm throughout the match, turning what was expected to be a straightforward outing into a disciplined defensive showcase.

Baliton admitted the result felt especially rewarding after nearly two years of grinding through setbacks with the squad.

“Sobrang ano, sobrang nakakataba ng puso. Kumbaga, ang dami ng pinagdaanan ng team and kumbaga, start din ‘to ng magkaroon ng winning culture ‘yung team kasi nga for the longest time, maraming napagdaanan ‘yung team,” she said.

“So kumbaga napapatunayan din namin na kung ano ‘yung pinapakita namin sa training, lumalabas din.”

The victory also reflected the system-first approach the team has been steadily building under a revamped roster and coaching structure.

“Kumbaga, talagang bini-build namin ‘yun paunti-unti sa training, nagsa-start sa training. ‘Yun din, most of our teammates bago na, lahat ng coaches, ganun din,” said Baliton, a product of University of the East.

“Nag-stick lang din kami [sa system] or kung nawawala ‘man, bumabalik lang din kami dun sa kung ano ‘yung mga tinuturo sa training po.”

While the standings remain tight and the road ahead uncertain, Galeries Tower now carries something far more valuable than momentum—a reminder that their progress is beginning to translate into results.

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