MONTALBAN, RIZAL — Veterans Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones refused for Akari to collapse, recovering in time to outlast ZUS Coffee in five sets, 26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 17-15, and enter the 2025 Premier Volleyball League On Tour win column on Saturday night at the Ynares Center here.
Soyud, the PVL Press Corps Most Improved Player, unloaded seven of her 19 points in the deciding set to push the Chargers to the win.
Soltones and Soyud combined for four straight points in the fifth frame to turn an 8-9 deficit into a 12-9 lead, but the Thunderbelles still found a way to climb back.
Kate Santiago came through with a crosscourt kill, before Maika Ortiz blocked Ezra Madrigal and Soyud on back-to-back occasions to tie the match at 12.
Knotted at 15, Ced Domingo was clutch for Akari with a running attack that she hit off the blockers. Then Santiago’s attack went wide for the Chargers’ victory after two hours and 25 minutes.
(C) PVL Images
“Actually, na-surprise rin ako. Na-surprise rin ako sa performance ng team, kasi kakabalik ko lang from vacation. ‘Yung expectation namin hindi ganoon kataas, but ‘yung resiliency nakita ko,” said new Akari head coach Tina Salak, who missed the team’s first two games.
“Thankful din kami kay ZUS. Tinest din ‘yung character ng team. Very thankful kami sa game na ‘yon, very exciting. Pero then again ang dami pa namin kailangan to work on, i-improve,” she added.
The Chargers improved their Pool B record to 1-2, bouncing back from their defeats to the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Cignal HD Spikers in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
Soltones led Akari with 23 points, 11 digs, and nine receptions, while Soyud chimed in 19 points on 17 spikes and two blocks.
Domingo also delivered with 12 points, while libero Dani Ravena shone with 22 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
(C) PVL Images
On the other hand, the Thunderbelles dropped their opening game of the preseason tournament. The top two teams of each group gain an outright quarterfinals berth, while the remaining squads figure in a crossover knockout battle.
Jovelyn Gonzaga left it all on the court with 23 points, 12 receptions, and 11 digs, while Chinnie Arroyo added 17 points.
Fifth overall pick AC Miner had 12 points in her debut. Alyssa Eroa got 16 excellent digs in her first game with the Thunderbelles.
The teams will return to action tomorrow at the same venue, with Akari facing Chery Tiggo and ZUS Coffee meeting Capital1.
