PVL: Bella Belen posts career-high 35 as Capital1 outlasts Akari in 5-set thriller

ANTIPOLO — Capital1 sophomore Bella Belen erupted for career-high 35 points as the Solar Spikers outlasted Akari, 28-26, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25, 21-19, for their first win in the Siklab series of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the Ynares Center here.

Belen fired the squad’s last two points — putting Capital1 on match point for the first time in the fifth set and clinched the game for them with a sharp kill — capping a stellar all-around performance that went with 20 excellent digs and 19 excellent receptions.

“Napag-usapan kasi namin during the fifth set na nandun na kami, so may chance na kaming ipanalo and hindi naman nagkakalayo ‘yung score kahit lamang ‘yung kalaban. Mas masaya maglaro sa mga ganung situations, ‘yung kumbaga ‘yung challenge talagang nandun,” said the reigning Rookie of the Year during the postgame press conference.

Joining the National University product in double digits were Vanie Gandler, Cherry Nunag, and Erika Santos with 10 points each.

Julia Coronel proved steady for them, as she pulled the strings well with 29 excellent sets, while Detdet Pepito showed her defensive prowess with clutch digs on Akari’s spikes late, eventually tallying 24 excellent digs.

Meanwhile, on the losing side, Akari reached six match points, with Fifi Sharma leading the charge in the endgame, but the Chargers could not capitalize on it to eventually succumb in two hours and 47 minutes.

Sharma delivered 20 points for the Chargers, while Ivy Lacsina had 18 markers, and Eli Soyud had 17.