The second overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft, Jean Asis, played a crucial role in the Galeries Tower Highrisers’ upset win over the higher-seeded Capital1 Solar Spikers in the play-in tournament of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Highrisers advanced to the next round after defeating the Solar Spikers, 25-16, 25-20, 30-28. In the third set, Asis scored three consecutive points to give her team a 23-20 cushion.
Although Bella Belen and the rest of the Solar Spikers rallied to tie the game at 28-all, Asis came up with a crucial block on Belen to push the Highrisers to match point, 29-28, before Gayle Pascual sealed the win with a combination play.
“Sobrang importante talaga nitong game na ’to for us kahit natalo kami last game. Pero sabi namin talaga babawi kami nitong game na ’to, kasi ito yung mas importante talaga,” said Asis after the match.
“Sobrang happy naman ako na nag-perform lahat, nag-ambag talaga. Kahit yung mga nasa bench, tumulong din para i-boost yung confidence namin.”
Jean Asis Leads Galeries’ Stunning Effort
Asis led the team with 17 points built on 12 attacks, three blocks, and two aces. Coincidentally, the top overall pick in the same draft class was Belen, who was the lone double-digit scorer for the Solar Spikers with 21 points.
Asis added, “Siguro pinangatawanan ko rin na second pick ako. Siyempre, may expectation din ako sa sarili ko na kailangan kong mag-perform nang maayos bilang balik ko sa Galeries. Siguro yun yung pinanghawakan ko kaya gusto kong ilabas yung laro ko na meron din ako.”
Now that the Highrisers have seemingly found their groove at a crucial point in the tournament, Jean Asis hopes they can sustain their momentum.
“Inisip namin na ayaw naming magbakasyon agad. Gusto namin April o ano ba, kailan ba matatapos yung conference na ’to? Basta yun, ayaw namin magbakasyon agad. Gusto naming ma-prove sa team namin na kaya talaga naming tumaas pa,” she ended.
