Highrisers turn back Defenders, clinch first PVL win

Galeries Tower crawled back from a two-set deficit and turned back Gerflor, 18-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, 15-11, to notch its first franchise victory in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Given up for the dead, the Highrisers rose to the occasion behind the efforts of Roma Joy Doromal and Andrea Marzan in finally snapping their eight-game slump in a battle of cellar-dwellers.

Doromal flexed her all-around game and pumped in 15 points built on 10 kills, three blocks and two aces, while Marzan unleashed 11 attacks to finish with 14 points.

Tied at 6-all in the fifth set, the Highrisers unloaded a 6-2 run courtesy of hard smashers from Ysay Jimenez and Marzan for a 12-8 lead.

Gerflor fought back as the two teams exchanged attacks, but a service error from Danika Gendrauli gave Galeries Tower the matchpoint advantage, 14-10.

A block from Jenny Gaviola briefly breathed life for Gerflor, but Dim Pacres sealed the win for Galeries Tower with a crosscourt kill.

Jimenez and Rapril Aguilar came off the bench and finished with nine points apiece, while Grazielle Bombita and Pacres contributed a combined 14 points.

Offense became the key for the Highrisers after unloading 62 kills despite giving up 44 points on errors.

Jeanette Villareal and Mary Grace Berte scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, for Gerflor, which plummeted deeper into the bottom standings with a ninth consecutive defeat.