CAPITAL1 and Galeries Tower owned prime positions in the last two editions of the PVL Rookie Draft, selecting second and third then first and second.
Two years later, and now the league’s lone independent teams, both squads are beginning to reap the rewards.
Their recent surge in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference, following the most frantic offseason transfer window yet, has put the spotlight on growing parity in the league.
Whether viewed as isolated breakthroughs or signs of a shifting competitive landscape, these zero-to-hero moments warrant a closer look as the conference progresses.
Here comes the sun
Capital1 opened its campaign with a convincing victory vs. ZUS Coffee before absorbing back-to-back losses to Nxled and PLDT.
The Solar Spikers restored order, however, when Bella Belen powered them to a gritty five-set triumph over Sisi Rondina-led Choco Mucho.
READ: Bella Belen's career night leads Capital1 past Choco Mucho
Belen unleashed a career-high 29-point performance, carrying Capital1 through a fierce back-and-forth contest that went the distance.
Even with prized recruit Eya Laure and key players Maddie Madayag and Isa Molde sidelined, the Flying Titans remained formidable, with Kat Tolentino and Des Cheng combining for 34 points in the loss.
Unlike in her debut conference months ago, Belen also drew timely support from her teammates. Ezra Madrigal and Shaya Adorador delivered seven points each, while Pauline Gaston and Ysa Jimenez added six apiece in crucial stretches.
Now they rise
Just a day later, Galeries Tower authored one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
The Highrisers stunned Nxled, halting the Chameleons’ three-game winning streak and securing only the franchise’s seventh victory in 59 games.
READ: Galeries Tower pulls rug from under BVS-led Nxled
Nxled entered the match riding wins over Farm Fresh, Capital1, and Cignal following a massive offseason rebuild highlighted by the arrivals of Petro Gazz standouts Brooke Van Sickle, and Myla Pablo.
Though the Chameleons opted to rest key players MJ Phillips, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng, and Aduke Ogunsanya as part of load management, they still fielded a fearsome lineup.
Galeries Tower, however, rose to the challenge behind 16-point performances from both Erika Deloria and Roselle Baliton, the latter also anchoring the defense with seven blocks.
A shifting landscape
With no defending champion to chase, the 2026 All-Filipino Conference presents one of the most open title races in recent PVL history.
Capital1 and Galeries Tower’s twin upsets suggest that sure wins and walkover games may soon become a thing of the past.
While pulling off stunning results is one challenge, sustaining such performances consistently remains the bigger test.
Still, early signs point to a league gradually moving toward greater competitive balance, a development that could reshape the landscape in the months and seasons ahead.
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