In just a few short months, Marina Tushova didn’t just play volleyball in the PVL—she ignited it, leaving a mark so profound that the league will never be the same.
With each game, she defied expectations, breaking records as if the act of breaking records was routine.
After Marina scored a “mere” 24 points to lead her Capital1 squad to an upset of two-time defending champion Petro Gazz, she captured some attention.
[Related: Former Petro Gazz import helped Capital1 record-breaker Marina Tushova land in the PVL]
But after Tushova scored an astonishing 45 points against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, which broke the 44-point mark set by Olympian Prisilla Rivera from Akari two years ago, she put the league on notice.
Then she outdid herself with 49 against the Nxled Chameleons, which by that time Marina-mania was in full effect.
It came with a loss, but her team’s playoff debut was marked by a new PVL record of 50 points, and her breathtaking display of power and grace essentially sealed Tushova’s place as a local favorite.
Marina Tushova didn’t just play for the Premier Volleyball League; she poured her heart into every serve, spike, and block, offering fans a glimpse into the soul of an athlete who did the very thing she loved the most.
Beyond her on-court achievements, Tushova became a source of inspiration off the court as well. She shared motivational posts on her Instagram account, where she created a safe space for her fans by candidly revealing that her life isn't as perfect as it might appear.
The Russian import has done more than capture the hearts of Filipino fans; she has let the Philippines change hers in ways she never imagined.
“The team taught me so much about believing in myself. Here, for the first time, I truly began to believe in myself,” Tushova revealed.
“I owe that to my team and to the incredible fans.”
In a conference specifically set up to have a player like Marina to come in and boost a team like Capital1, it was Tushova that found solace and strength through her fellow Solar Spikers.
“This brings me a lot [of emotions when they say], 'Marina, look, everyone believes in you. Just believe in yourself.' And I learned that here, and I hope I will continue to improve on this.”
The transformation is undeniable. As PVL courtside reporter Ayie Tinsay revealed, Marina Tushova grew up in Russia where joy and celebration seemed like foreign concepts on the taraflex.
She was trained to suppress her emotions, to never smile and celebrate whenever she’d score. That was the Russian way that Marina grew up on. But here in the Philippines, everything was different.
In Manila, Tushova learned that joy could be a part of the game. She learned to smile, to celebrate, and to let her emotions flow freely with every point scored. She found freedom in self-expression and, ultimately, in self-belief.
“My team [and] coaches [tell] me, 'Marina, relax, enjoy, smile.' But sometimes I'm too mad, like, how is it possible to smile when you work hard? But yes, you [Filipinos] taught me this. You can enjoy yourself and still work hard,” Tushova reflected.
“You can smile and work at the same time. Yes, I like it. I hope to keep it. I need to keep it.”
Marina loves the Filipino smile on her now.
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Before Tushova even stepped onto the PVL’s taraflex, Capital1 co-owner Mandy Romero was already highlighting the ‘Filipino fighting spirit’ that she embodies.
“We’re proud to have signed Ms. Marina Tushova, an incredibly young and talented player from Russia,” Romero said during the PVL Draft Lottery in June, where she officially announced their import for the Reinforced Conference.
“She has the Filipino fighting spirit that we’re all looking for and we hope can excite the fans,” Romero added, as Tushova did end up excite not just Capital1 fans, but volleyball fans in general.
Iris Tolenada, who joined the Solar Spikers with Tushova after her stint in South Korea, can definitely also vouch for the qualities that Romero found in Marina before the PVL even started.
Qualities that Tushova lived up to, and then some.
[Related: Capital1 super import Marina Tushova breaks PVL record again with 50 POINTS vs. Cignal]
“Yes, absolutely. Marina is one of the toughest volleyball players I’ve had the honor of calling my teammate,” Iris said.
“The fact that she does whatever it takes to win is a huge deal for me when I think of what a good teammate is, and she definitely knows how to fight,” the veteran setter shared when asked about Tushova’s embodiment of the Filipino fighting spirit.
Since spending time in the Philippines, Tolenada also noted some changes she observed in the Russian spiker since she first arrived in the country.
“I think since Day 1, she has embraced being in a brand new culture, and she definitely learned how to show and navigate through her emotions,” Iris said on Marina.
“She and I have talked about differences in Russian, Filipino, and American culture, and we’re both fascinated by all of it.”
[Related: Philippine volleyball community celebrate Marina Tushova’s new PVL record of 50 points with Capital1]
The transformation Marina Tushova underwent during her time in the Philippines not only impacted her but also resonated with her teammates.
“The most fun thing about our team scoring a point was Marina’s awesome yelling; we will for sure miss that,” Tolenada added.
There’s now a bit of Filipino blood coursing through Marina Tushova’s heart, a space now filled with the warmth and joy she found here.
She intends to carry that with her wherever she goes.
“When you go to another atmosphere, [it’s different], and I totally understand it now. So, I want to keep it, I mean, [the] Filipino part.”
Tushova’s next chapter will take her to Azerbaijan, where she’ll join her new team, Ganja, until April next year.
[Related: Marina Tushova the "right choice" for Capital1]
But while her first PVL stint is done, the story doesn’t end here. Marina Tushova isn’t keen on saying goodbye to the Philippines just yet.
“I hope we will have another opportunity. I hope that I will come back here to play again,” she said.
“And I hope that I will be better next year. I also hope that Capital1 will improve too. And I hope that I can bring something more to this amazing team.”
Marina Tushova may be leaving, but she’s taking a piece of the Philippines with her, a piece that will stay with her wherever she goes.
For the Filipino volleyball fans captivated by her brilliance, she will be etched in the history books and in their hearts forever.