HISTORY unfolded in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) as Capital1 import Marina Tushova broke two longstanding league records in one monumental showing.
The 25-year-old Russian reinforcement shattered the league’s two-year-old scoring record with 45 points, built on an unprecedented 43 attacks, one block and one ace, doing it in the most dramatic fashion as she powered a come-from-behind five-set victory over Choco Mucho.
Tushova eclipsed the previous scoring yardstick by just one point, that last one being the sweetest as she fired the game-winning attack from the back row to cap their comeback win.
Two years ago in the last edition of the import-laden conference, it was Akari’s Prisilla Rivera who had 44 points built on 39 attacks, four aces and one block in, ironically, a five-set win over Choco Mucho, as well.
And the cherry on top from an individual standpoint? Tushova set the new single-game attacking record with 43 attack points — one previously held by Banko Perlas’ Kia Bright who had 40 attacks to her name.
Business as usual
As Tushova piled on one point after another just when the Solar Spikers slowly inched back from a 1-2 set hole, she didn't even know that she was closing in on making history - nor did she care.
All she cared about was contributing to her squad as she felt that she was letting her team down with a listless performance early on in the game.
All she was focused on was making sure to get her team back in the game, records and personal achievements aside.
“All game, I felt like I’m not doing anything. That’s why I’m like: ‘let’s do more, let’s do more.’ So about this 45 points, it’s good for sure but it's not like I’m already on top of my career or I’m better than someone else. It’s just one game and today it was like this,” Tushova said.
“For now, I don’t feel it yet. I just wanted to finish the game and when the game was finished, I didn't know how to react. I needed to calm down first and maybe after, for sure, it will be in my career," she added.
“I’m proud of myself, I’m proud really. But for now, I don’t feel it at all.”
What's even more impressive is how Tushova struggled to prepare well for this match, with the high-scoring Russian sharing how she's been dealing with stress the past couple of days.
With this performance, she can now breathe easier.
“I couldn’t sleep yesterday night, I couldn’t eat today, so it was like this. I was fighting with my stress all these days. It was another preparation, some things I cannot share with you all, but it was different.”
“I’m not that emotional as a player, but here, I needed it.”
'No one else except Marina'
With the type of game she was having, Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb knew that they were living and dying with Tushova on the floor.
Though he can see that her brilliant import was starting to show fatigue, there was no way he was going to let anyone else take them home but Tushova.
“Maybe she’s tired, but I gave a specific instruction kay Iris Tolenada. I told Iris, ‘whatever happens, give it to Marina, no one else except Marina.’ Give it to her, if it’s outside so be it eh pinalo nito? Tumama doon sa block, eh ‘di nanalo kami. Ganon lang naman ‘yun eh,” Gorayeb said.
And as Tushova hammered the winning point home, it gave the Solar Spikers something more than a victory.
It's a battlecry that they will continue to compete with Tushova at the helm of their attack.
“Naririnig niyo ba ‘yung tili niya? ‘Yung scream niya? Siya ‘yun eh. Sabi ko kay Marina, ‘Marina, I want to hear your voice because it gives us all inspiration. If Marina is on her tiptop shape, we have to follow her," he said.
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