PVL: Galeries gets first win streak after beating Strong Group

Galeries Towers High Risers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

ANTIPOLO CITY—Galeries Tower notched its first ever back to back wins after a 25-17, 25-14, 25-12 triumph over Strong Group in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at Ynares Center here.

Grace Bombita led the Highrisers with 16 points from 15 attacks and an ace to carve out their most convincing win since joining the league last conference where they finished with a 1-10 record.

“Yung mga nauna kasing games namin medyo challenging, Galeries Tower coach Lerma Giron said referring to its losses against defending champion Creamline and Nxled to open its campaign.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

“Saming coaches, talagang finigure out namin kung ano pa yung mga kulang, ano pa yung dadagdagan namin, ano yung babawasan. So far, so good naman. Nagrerespond ng maayos yung mga players dun sa adjustments na ginagawa namin,” she added.

Audrey Paran contributed 12 points on 10 attacks and two aces in the one-hour and 16 minute encounter to help Galeries Tower to its best start with a 2-4 standing after also towering over Capital1 last Saturday in Laguna province.

The Highrisers showed a more efficient offense than the Athletics with a 48-19 advantage on attacks, adding a 7-1 edge on aces that exposed Strong Group’s holes on its floor defense.

READ: PVL: Galeries posts first win at expense of Capital1

The Athletics, however, tried to compensate for that with a 7-1 lead on blocks.

“Pinanghugutan ko rin talaga yung mga teammates ko, especially the coaches,” Bombita said. “Yung tiwalang binibigay, yung suporta, nandun yung faith and yung belief na kaya naming ma-execute yung plan.”

The Highrisers did just that after wasting no time sweeping their opponent and charging to an early 7-1 lead in the decider.

Bombita nailed one of Galeries Towers’ aces to give her crew a 16-8 advantage France Ronquillo scored for a nine-point Highrisers lead.

And there was no going back from that for Galeries Tower, which produced a 5-0 run capped by Marzan’s cross court hit to secure the win.

It was another lackluster showing for SGA who remains the lone team without a win this conference as it absorbed a sixth consecutive loss with no Athletic reaching double digits.

Sheeka Espinosa topscored Strong Group with seven points while team captain Dolly Verzosa and Mary Joy Onofre, who finished with four blocks, dished out six points each.

Galeries tries to come up with a follow up performance against powerhouse Choco Mucho next on April 2 at PhilSports Arena.