Capital1 hopes to turn the momentum of a hard-earned victory into a winning streak, but the Solar Spikers know they will need more than confidence and firepower to get past ZUS Coffee when the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series resumes Tuesday (Oct. 20) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Buoyed by their grueling five-set triumph over the Akari Chargers in Antipolo last Thursday, the Solar Spikers are eager to sustain their resurgence in the 1 p.m. opener of another explosive triple-header. Yet coach Jorge Souza de Brito is taking nothing for granted against a ZUS Coffee side he expects to come out sharper and more determined following a disappointing straight-set loss to Choco Mucho in its conference debut.
“Our morale is high. But the important part is we need to adjust how we play because what I know about the Thunderbelles is they’re playing really good, really fast, and coach Jerry (Yee) is always very good, so we’re gonna be ready for them,” said de Brito.
The Solar Spikers have ample firepower to make another statement, with Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos leading a formidable rotation that can challenge even the league’s established contenders. But as their recent outings have shown, talent alone will not be enough; consistency and composure under pressure could prove just as decisive.
Capital1 learned that lesson the hard way in Cebu last Oct. 10, when it squandered a two-set advantage and absorbed a five-set defeat to Choco Mucho. The team responded with a victory over Akari, although not without another arduous battle that tested its resolve before Belen delivered the decisive blows.
The reigning Rookie of the Year was virtually unstoppable, erupting for a career-high 35 points, including the final two that sealed the Solar Spikers’ victory. Her explosive performance underscored why Capital1 looms as one of the teams to watch, particularly with Gandler and Santos providing additional attacking options.
For de Brito, however, the bigger picture goes beyond individual brilliance. The Brazilian mentor believes his players are becoming more comfortable with the system, even as he stresses the need for continued growth as the team pursues its championship aspirations.
“We have very good players, talented players. And I think the guys we have already know the system and are adjusting to it. But, of course, since we want to fight for the championship, there's room to grow, and we're going to fight for this,” he said.
“We are blessed because we have these additions. But still, it's an accountability for us. It's always to grow. So, I'm happy because the guys are paying off at every single training they are doing,” added de Brito.
ZUS Coffee, meanwhile, will be out to prove that its opening-game setback was merely a false start. Although the Thunderbelles fell in straight sets to the Flying Titans, one defeat hardly defines a campaign, especially with Yee expected to use the break to fine-tune the team’s systems and address the flaws exposed in its debut.
The challenge, though, is formidable. Containing Belen alone would demand a disciplined defensive effort, with Santos and Gandler giving Capital1 other potent weapons to exploit any cracks in the Thunderbelles’ coverage. ZUS Coffee will need to be organized at the net, sharper in floor defense and efficient in transition to keep the Solar Spikers’ attack in check.
On the offensive end, the Thunderbelles must also find ways to match Capital1’s firepower. Middle blockers AC Miner, Riza Nogales and Chai Troncoso, along with wing spikers Jolina dela Cruz, Cess Robless, Chinnie Arroyo, Kate Santiago, Fiola Ceballos and Zam Nolasco, will need to deliver more consistent production if ZUS Coffee hopes to strike back.
The stakes are rising as the novel conference format begins to take shape. Nxled, Creamline and Choco Mucho emerged from the opening week with 2-0 records, while Farm Fresh and Capital1 split their first two assignments at 1-1. The remaining teams are still searching for their first victories.
After a single round of eliminations, the top four squads will advance to the crossover semifinals, where the top two finishers will enjoy twice-to-beat advantages. Every match, therefore, carries added weight as teams jockey for favorable positions in the race to the next round.
The day’s 6 p.m. main game between PLDT and Akari is particularly crucial for two teams desperate to get their campaigns back on track. The High Speed Hitters bowed to the Nxled Chameleons in straight sets, while the Chargers have dropped their first two matches and can ill afford another setback as they try to revive their semifinal hopes.
Before that showdown, National U-Archipelago Builders and VNS Always Bright Laticre will make their Spikers’ Turf debuts at 3:30 p.m. National U, armed with a star-studded roster of top collegiate players, enters the match as the slight favorite, but the opening-day assignment offers both sides an early opportunity to establish their credentials.
