Akari staged an incredible comeback after a tough first set setback, sweeping the next three to defeat Cignal, 15-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-22, in a clash of unbeaten teams in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig yesterday (Tuesday).
Despite the surprise outcome, given the HD Spikers’ dominant performance in their first four games and the Chargers’ more tumultuous path to four victories, including two reverse sweeps, Akari demonstrated it had the necessary skills to excel in this mid-season conference organized by Sports Vision.
Oly Okaro matched her counterpart MJ Perez’s 24-point output, her final hit thwarted a significant comeback attempt by the HD Spikers, who had rallied from a 15-23 deficit to close the gap to 22-24 with Perez’s strong performance and some Akari errors.
However, Akari regained its composure during a timeout, and after a series of exchanges, including a well-defended off-speed hit by Perez, the Chargers set up Okaro for the decisive point.
“Actually, it was a slow start. Every time, we would lose the first set, then we would rise. That’s what we need to work on differently because if we keep on doing that, we just make it high intensity when we can win at 3-0,” said Akari coach Taka Minowa. “It’s just extra minutes for us.”
With its fifth consecutive victory, Akari advanced to the crossover second round undefeated. The top three teams from Pool B will compete against the bottom three from Pool A in the next phase of the two-part eliminations.
After a 10-point loss in the first set, the Chargers rallied with a strong second set and maintained their momentum in the pivotal third set. Building on their back-to-back set victories, Akari continued to dominate, taking a commanding 16-7 lead in the fourth set, leaving the HD Spikers and their fans in awe.
Despite a late surge from Perez, who helped Cignal close to within two points, Okaro delivered the final blow with a powerful down-the-line hit, ending the match in two hours and eleven minutes.
Okaro received solid support from her teammates, with Ivy Lacsina contributing 14 points and Ced Domingo adding 10.
Kamille Cal also orchestrated the team’s play with 14 excellent sets and eight crucial points, including three blocks, while liberos Dani Ravena and Max Juangco added nine excellent digs and nine receptions, respectively.
Grethcel Soltones also delivered another stellar all-around performance with eight points, 19 receptions, and 11 digs.
Meanwhile, Perez added 11 receptions and nine digs to her 24-point tally, while Riri Meneses and Ces Molina contributed nine and eight points, respectively. Cignal finished the initial eliminations round with a 4-1 record.
In the next round, Akari and Cignal will face Nxled, Galeries, and one yet-to-be-determined team.
