Belen explodes for career-high 38 points as Solar Spikers nip Chargers
Games Saturday
(FilOil Center)
1 p.m. - Farm Fresh vs Nxled (PVL)
3:30 p.m. - AEP vs FEU (Spikers’ Turf)
6 p.m. - Galeries Tower vs Creamline (PVL)
MANILA, Philippines — Where Bella Belen goes, the Capital1 Solar Spikers follow.
Living up to the hype as the next face of the Premier Volleyball League, the mercurial sophomore unleashed a career performance to lift Capital1 to a 28-26, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25, 21-19 squeaker over a pesky Akari on Thursday to snare its first win in the All-Filipino Conference Pulse Series at the Ynares Center Antipolo.
Eager to bounce back from a bitter five-set defeat to Choco Mucho in last Saturday’s Cebu opener, Belen was a woman on a mission on this one and delivered her best performance in the league — a 38-point masterpiece that she laced with 34 kills.
It included the match’s final two points that sealed the Milka and Mandy Romero-owned franchise’s first win in two starts.
Belen’s previous high was 29, which came last February in a win over Choco Mucho.
The former first overall rookie pick said she is happy they are getting the experience competing in clutch situations like these ones.
“Sabi ko sa teammates ko, masaya mag laro ganun situations, andun kasi ang challenges,” said Belen, who completed a triple-double by adding 20 digs and 19 excellent receptions.
Vannie Gandler, Erika Santos and Cherry Rose Nunag provided some help and fired 10 hits each while Julia Coronel continued to show that she’s worthy of the starting setter job after dishing out 29 excellent sets.
But none shone the brightest than Belen, who just took it upon herself to carry Capital1 to the win.
“Kung ano pwede ko maitulong sa team at kung ano kaya ko gawin basta for the team, gagawin ko,” she said.
The Chargers dropped to 0-2.
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