PVL: Marina Tushova shrugs off pain en route to 49-point record
Capital1’s Marina Tushova celebrates during her latest record-breaking performance in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Marina Tushova has already cemented her name in the PVL record books after being the only player to score at least 45 points in a single game twice after resetting the mark with a new league-high 49 on Saturday.
Just nine days after tallying a new scoring record of 45, the Russian Spiker poured in 46 kills—the most in a single game— to finish with 49 points in Capital1’s come-from-behind 20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 15-6 win over Nxled in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference second round opener on Saturday night at Philsports Arena.
Article continues after this advertisement“It means a lot, it means that this girl one week ago, it was another girl and it means I’m improving, really,” said Tushova, who is now the author of the league’s top two best-scoring performances.
READ: PVL: Marina Tushova drops 49 to fuel Capital1 past Nxled
Tushova on her sensational night. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/A5udK6ikGR
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 10, 2024
As her legend in the league continues to grow, Tushova won her second straight PVL Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of August 6 to 10, besting Akari pair Oly Okaro and Grethcel Soltones, Petro Gazz’s Wilma Salas, PLDT’s Lena Samoilenko, Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons, and Chery Tiggo’s Ara Galang.
Article continues after this advertisementFor the 25-year-old hitter, however, her 49-point output represents more than a personal milestone, it’s a testament to her continuous evolution as a right hand injury didn’t stop her from another historic night.
“It means a lot, it means that this girl one week ago, it was another girl and it means I’m improving, really,” said Tushova, who set the top two scoring records in a span of 10 days.
“I did a good job, we did a good job together, and today I felt like I’m on my game. I didn’t feel like I’m somewhere else. I’m just attacking and cannot score, sometimes, but I was more comfortable on the court and more confident.”
Tushova, who scored 32 points against ZUS Coffee to cap the first round on Tuesday, was unanimously voted by the beat reporters from broadsheets and online news outlets for the second week in a row, besting Akari pair Oly Okaro and Grethcel Soltones, Petro Gazz’s Wilma Salas, PLDT’s Lena Samoilenko, Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons, and Chery Tiggo’s Ara Galang.
Behind her sensational performances including a 32-point outing against ZUS Coffee last Tuesday was the enjoyment of the Capital1 reinforcement playing in front of passionate volleyball fans with her teammates and coaches.
“I just enjoy playing with my team I did a good job, we did a good job together, and today I felt like I’m on my game. I didn’t feel like I was somewhere else. I’m just attacking and cannot score, yes sometimes, but I was more comfortable on the court and more confident,” said Tushova, who had a 51 percent attack efficiency while also registering two aces and a block.
What’s more impressive is that Tushova did it all while playing through pain in her right wrist she sustained in practice a few days ago.
The 25-year-old Tushova couldn’t even move her right hand a day before her historic night, needing to rest and rehab during the team’s practice. But her mentality to lead the way for the Solar Spikers didn’t stop her from helping tally the franchise’s longest winning streak at three so far.
READ: PVL: Tushova-led Capital1 just getting started, says Gorayeb
Tushova even played through a right wrist pain. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/PqtuBUweZj
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 10, 2024
“In practice, you can react ‘I have pain.’” But in a game, you don’t feel anything. You feel but [the pain] doesn’t matter,” she said.
Capital1 is a win away from a breakthrough quarterfinal ticket with a 4-2 record after another sensational night for Tushova. But the Russian and the Solar Spikers won’t stop working all the way to the top this midseason conference.
“We need to work everywhere, physical work, work with balls, we need to do everything and we do. About my own performance, like what I’m doing, I don’t do anything special for real. I do everything professionally and I see how the girls does it,” Tushova said.
