Capital1 rallies past Nxled to break through

Leila Cruz (center) smartly drills in a kill between two Nxled blockers. —PVL IMAGES

Capital1 snapped a three-game skid by staging a stunning comeback to steal the second set before dominating the next two for a 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-18 triumph over dumbfounded Nxled in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Saturday.

Leila Cruz and Heather Guino-o formed the Solar Spikers’ 1-2 punch, finishing with a combined 38 points with Patty Orendain coming off the bench to chip in with 10 points.

The victory was a welcome relief for Capital1, which had previously faltered against top contenders Chery Tiggo, Choco Mucho and PLDT.

“I am so happy, because all of our hard work finally showed on the floor,” said Guino-o, who delivered 21 points, including 19 attacks and two blocks, in Filipino.

Trailing 20-12 in the second set, Capital1 got the boost from Guino-o, who led a 13-2 run that eventually tied the game at a set each.

In helping the Solar Spikers to a 1-3 record, Guino-o emphasized that staying optimistic will be key to staying in the running for a slot in the playoffs.

“We will work even harder from hereon so we can have this feeling [of winning] more often,” said the former Far Eastern standout in the UAAP.

Chiara Permentilla led Nxled with an impressive 23-point effort, but struggled with fatigue in the latter stages.

The Chameleons also suffered from a lack of consistent support, with Jaila Atienza and Lycha Ebon adding just nine and six points, respectively.

The Solar Spikers’ remarkable turnaround in the second set not only derailed Nxled’s momentum but also crushed their confidence, setting the stage for Capital1’s dominant performance in the final two sets.