Akari finally put everything together.
After stumbling through three straight losses, the Chargers delivered a composed and complete performance to scuttle the Nxled Chameleons 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at the FilOil Playime Centre on Tuesday night.
More than just a win, it was a statement.
A team that had looked disjointed and searching for answers in its first three outings finally displayed cohesion, poise and balance. Even after dropping a tightly contested third set, the Chargers stayed organized and aggressive, taking early control of the fourth and fending off every Nxled rally attempt down the stretch to seal the two-hour, 10-minute victory.
It was a much-needed breakthrough that lifted Akari to 1-3 and breathed life into its campaign in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Ced Domingo fittingly delivered the finishing blow, hammering in her signature quick attack that the Chameleons failed to contain. Domingo anchored the middle with 17 points, including two blocks, providing stability alongside Fifi Sharma.
On the wings, Ivy Lacsina erupted for 20 points, while Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones added 13 and 12, respectively. The balanced scoring – four players in double figures – underscored the offensive fluidity that had been missing in Akari’s earlier losses.
Running the show was Mars Alba, who orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets and sprinkled in five points of her own, including timely 1-2 plays and even a rare foot attack that caught Nxled, a team they now dominated in five of six five previous head-to-head duels, off guard. Her all-around brilliance earned her Best Player of the Game honors.
“Tiwala lang sa isa’t isa,” said Alba. “We thanked the Lord because we couldn’t have done this on our own. We’re grateful to finally get a win and hopefully this continues.”
Akari’s renewed firepower showed in the numbers. The Chargers dominated in attacks, 70-57, neutralizing Nxled’s edge at the net where Ranya Musa led with four of their eight blocks.
For Nxled, the loss marked a troubling second straight setback after a promising 3-0 start. Now at 3-2, the Chameleons suddenly look vulnerable – a stark contrast to the powerhouse squad that swept its first three assignments and raised expectations early in the conference before yielding to Galeries Tower in three.
Lacsina and Soltones also made their presence felt on the defensive end, steadying the backline as much as they fueled the offense. Lacsina tallied 10 excellent receptions to keep Akari’s first ball under control, while Soltones stood out with 14 excellent digs and 10 receptions, repeatedly frustrating Nxled’s attackers and sustaining crucial rallies.
Brooke Van Sickle paced Nxled with 16 points but struggled to find rhythm in the opening sets, allowing Akari to seize control. Myla Pablo added 14, while MJ Phillips chipped in 12 in her return after missing the team’s shocking defeat to the Highrisers.
But on this night, Nxled was reduced to chasing.
And Akari, at long last, looked like the cohesive contender many expected from the start.
Nxled breathed new life into its campaign with a gripping Set 3 victory, surviving a nerve-wracking finish marked by momentum swings, a prolonged net-infraction challenge by Akari, and even a yellow card for Nxled for burning all its timeouts.
The Chameleons appeared in control at 19-17 but suddenly found themselves trailing, 20-22, as the Chargers mounted a fierce rally. Refusing to fold, Nxled responded behind Van Sickle’s thunderous blast before Jonah Sabete-Escamillan delivered back-to-back clutch hits – the second coming off a tense, extended exchange – to push Nxled back in front, 23-22.
Drama escalated when the Chargers challenged a net infraction call. The lengthy review stalled the match’s rhythm, but the verdict stood as unsuccessful, clearing the way for Djanel Cheng to hammer in a clutch ace that moved Nxled to set point.
Akari stayed alive behind Domingo’s quick attack, trimming the deficit to 23-24 and setting the stage for a high-pressure finish. But the tension that had defined the set was ultimately undercut by a costly lapse.
Kamille Cal, sent in cold off the bench to serve and extend the fight, misfired with a strong, long attempt – the service error handing Nxled a hard-earned two-point escape.
In a set defined by surges, slips and simmering tension, it was Nxled’s poise in the decisive moments – aided by Cal’s untimely error – that sealed the dramatic win.
