Bella Belen, Capital1 brace for make-or-break clash vs Petro Gazz in PVL Reinforced

The Capital1 Solar Spikers gear up for their biggest match of the season as they face the Petro Gazz Angels in a virtual knockout duel for a coveted quarterfinal berth in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday, November 14, at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

With both squads carrying identical 3-3 records and sharing seventh place in a crowded mid-table battle, the stakes could not be higher. 

Only one will walk away with a critical upper hand in the quarterfinal race, while the loser risks slipping out of contention with just days left in the eliminations.

Capital1 enters the crucial showdown eager to bounce back from a tough five-set loss to the rejuvenated Chery Tiggo EV side. 

Despite the defeat, the Solar Spikers showed plenty of positives, most notably the continued rise of rookie star Bella Belen, who has provided consistent scoring, elite floor defense, and much-needed poise in tense moments

[ALSO READ: PVL: Bella Belen underscores focus on defense for Capital1 Solar Spikers]

Belen’s strong connection with import Sasha Bytsenko also remains central to Capital1’s attack. 

Bytsenko, one of the tournament’s top scorers and most efficient attackers, anchors the offensive load while Belen offers versatility and reliability across rotations. 

Add to that the contributions of Rachel Austero, Leila Cruz, Pia Abbu, and veteran setter Iris Tolenada, and Capital1 possesses a balanced lineup capable of matching the Angels blow for blow.

[ALSO READ: Rachel Austero finds new PVL home, renewed confidence with Capital1]

With both teams clinging to their quarterfinal aspirations, this matchup has all the makings of a thriller.

The Capital1–Petro Gazz clash serves as the last game of Saturday’s triple-header at 6:30 p.m.

(With reports from Kiko Demigillo/One Sports)

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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]