Play-in: One loss and out

MANILA, Philippines — It’s win-or-go-home for Galeries Tower, Capital1, ZUS Coffee and Choco Mucho as they tangle in a pair of stepladder play-in showdowns today in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil Arena.

No. 8 Solar Spikers clash with No. 9 Highrisers at 4 p.m. with the victor arranging another knockout duel, this time versus No. 5 Nxled Chameleons Saturday over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

No. 7 Flying Titans and No. 10 Thunderbelles collide at 6:30 p.m. with the winner setting up a clash with No. 6 Akari – also a play-in win-or-go home affair.

Both matchups are rematches with recent history. Capital1 just edged Galeries Tower last Saturday, 25–20, 22–25, 25–22, 26–24, while Choco Mucho took down ZUS Coffee last Thursday, 27–25, 22–25, 25–16, 25–19 – results that give the Solar Spikers and Flying Titans a slight psychological edge.

All eyes will be on Capital1 rookie Bella Belen who poured in 23 points with 14 digs and 15 receptions in that win over Galeries. Belen, though, stressed the collective task ahead: “It would need a total team effort for us to have a chance to go deeper.”

The road is steep – each of these four clubs needs three straight wins to crash the semifinals. It starts tonight, one knockout at a time.

The Solar Spikers look to ride Belen’s two-way play and cleaner transition offense while the Highrisers need steadier first-ball and more consistent terminal offense to flip the result.

The Flying Titans are to bank on experience and middle pressure after pulling away late in their previous win over ZUS. Thunderbelle, meanwhile, must stabilize reception and convert in the long rallies that tilted the last match.