Akari overcame initial hurdles to annex a 25-19, 25-17, 25-20 victory over Galeries Tower and keep its flickering semifinal hopes in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna Saturday.
Despite a challenging start, the Chargers, ranked seventh with a 3-5 slate, re-asserted their might in the latter half of the match, showcasing their determination to stay in contention.
While the victory kept Akari at a distance from the joint fourth-running Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, both standing at 5-2, the Chargers remain positive, aiming to sweep their last three matches while hoping for the other contenders not to go over six wins.
Galeries Tower, meanwhile, bowed out of the race with a 2-6 record with the Highrisers facing a tough schedule ahead against the Farm Fresh Foxies and top teams like the Angels and the Crossovers in their last three games.
Looking to finish with a flourish after Joy Soyud scored on a kill block as Akari approached match point, 24-15, the Highrisers, spurred on by the enthusiastic crowd, rattled off five straight points to the surprise of the Chargers.
Akari coach Raffy Mosuela took no risks, sending back Grethcel Soltones to the game. However, it was Soyud who delivered the final blow, finishing off the Highrisers with a strong off-the-block hit that closed out the one-hour, 30-minute encounter.
Galeries Tower battled Akari in a back-and-forth skirmish in the first set. But after forcing a standoff at 18 on Fifi Sharma’s service fault, the Chargers rallied to win seven of the next eight points with Dindin Manabat anchoring the Chargers’ blistering windup with a kill.
Akari maintained its momentum in the next frame, pulling away midway through to establish a dominant lead and sealing the deal with an emphatic third-set performance, highlighted by an eight-point streak capped by Faith Nisperos’ hit on a combination play that made it 20-12.
RJ Doromal’s drop shot ended the long spell for Galeries Tower but the Chargers regrouped and unloaded four more points against the Highrisers’ two to put the outcome beyond doubt.
Manabat provided not only the leadership but also the firepower as she led Akari’s charge with 16 points while Soltones supported with 12 markers while demonstrating her defensive skills with 10 excellent digs and five receptions.
