Capital1 import Marina Tushova. Photo from PVL Media Bureau 

MANILA (UPDATED) – Capital1 import Marina Tushova has just made history in the Premier Volleyball League.

The Solar Spikers shone once more, toppling All-Filipino back-to-back silver medalist Choco Mucho behind the heroics of their Russian reinforcement, 13-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-20, 15-13, in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Tushova set a new league record — previously held by Akari’s Prisilla Rivera who had 44 markers during the 2022 Reinforced Conference — after dropping 45 points on 43 attacks, one block and an ace.

Additionally, she was on the defensive side of things and listed 18 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs.

Tushova also surpassed Kia Bright’s previous league-best 40 attacks after tallying 43 spikes in the five-set win over the Flying Titans.

After the match, Tushova could not immediately absorb what she did.

“For now I don’t [feel] it [yet] so 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 said during the postgame press conference.

Still, Tushova was proud of herself.

“I’m proud of myself, I’m proud really. But for now, I don’t feel it at all.”

Down 1-2 in sets, Capital1 proceeded to force a decider as Marina contributed clutch hits — a back row hit and a sharp spike off the hands of Choco Mucho blockers — to take Set 4, 25-20.

From a 12-13 count in Set 5, Tushova would give a point to Choco Mucho after her attack went wide, but Julia Ipac made up for it to give Capital1 match point.

And then the 25-year-old reinforcement finally concluded the two-hour, 33-minute volleyball encounter with a record-breaking and game-winning back row hit — earning roar from the team’s supporters and management.

Coach Roger Gorayeb was just happy to see his team improve and create upsets this tourney.

“Masaya ako from the very beginning of this tournament, ang laki ng in-improve ng team ko. Basta. Hindi ko ma-contain ‘yung happiness ko, now nandito pa si Marina sabi ko nga sa kanya I would rather see you in my team than on the other side,” said Gorayeb.

“Basta masaya lang ako. At hindi lang ako—lahat, supporters, management, lahat.”

The Solar Spikers will be facing the winless ZUS Coffee next week, while the Flying Titans, who fell to 1-3 win-loss card, can rebound against Petro Gazz.