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Belen’s 29 Points Carry Capital1 Past ZUS Coffee in Another Five-Set Escape

Bella Belen’s third straight triple-double, a 29-point masterpiece, carried Capital1 past ZUS Coffee in five sets Tuesday in Pasay City.

Published

9 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Belen's 29 Points Carry Capital1 Past ZUS Coffee in Another Five-Set Escape

Capital1 did it the hard way again on Tuesday, rallying from two separate one-set deficits to turn back the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 15-8 in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab series at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Bella Belen delivered her third straight triple-double, exploding for a game-high 29 points on 25 attacks and four blocks, with 16 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions. Belen fired six points in a blistering fifth-set finish, teaming with Vanie Gandler on a 7-1 run that broke a 6-all tie and put the match away. The outburst followed her career-best 35-point performance in Capital1’s five-set win over Akari last week.

Gandler and Erika Santos added 12 points apiece for the Solar Spikers, with Cherry Nunag contributing eight, Shaya Adorador seven and Sydney Niegos six. Jasmine Nabor tallied 14 excellent sets and Detdet Pepito anchored the defense with 23 excellent digs. Pauline Gaston’s spark in the fourth set, a 7-2 run that flipped a 13-16 deficit into a 20-17 lead, forced the decider.

“A win is a win, and they’re showing up every single day,” said Capital1 head coach Jorge Souza de Brito. “We need to show up. But we are back here, and always good when you come here because you win.”

Zam Nolasco led ZUS Coffee with 15 points on 10 attacks and five blocks, Jolina Dela Cruz posted 14 points and 15 excellent receptions, and Jovelyn Gonzaga and AC Miner added 11 points each. Capital1 improved to 2-1 and claimed solo fourth place, remarkably winning back-to-back five-setters after opening its conference with three straight matches that went the distance.

Photo: PVL

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Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.