SANTA ROSA, LAGUNA – Red-hot Akari moved a step closer to the qualifying round after outlasting Galeries Tower in four sets, 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24, in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex here.
Now on a five-game winning streak, the Chargers improved to 5-3, climbing to fourth place, and are poised to clinch a spot in the next round with a win over Farm Fresh this Saturday.
“Actually, ‘yung sa Galeries talaga nakaka-inspire ‘yung motivation nila,” said Akari head coach Tina Salak, who just weeks ago was figuring out ways to get out of a three-game slump at the start of the tournament.
(C) PVL Images
Ivy Lacsina, who had been averaging 19.75 points over Akari’s last four wins, was held to just seven points, though she delivered 19 excellent receptions—and rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
In the fourth set, Lacsina withstood the Highrisers’ late surge and delivered back-to-back kills to break a 20-all deadlock, giving the Chargers a 22-20 cushion. She then hammered down an emphatic kill off a perfectly executed combination play to push Akari ahead 24-23, before a service error allowed Erika Raagas’ ace to force a deuce.
Raagas later committed a crucial service error, setting the stage for Eli Soyud to unleash the game-winning cross-court attack, sealing the win for Akari after one hour and 53 minutes of play.
“Yun ‘yung challenge ko sa kanila ngayon na everytime na nagkakaroon tayo ng mga ganitong pagkakataon na mababa ‘yung nilalaro namin kasi ‘di naman talaga everyday parang pasko. I think sa amin buti nairaos namin, ‘yun talaga nairaos namin ng maayos,” added Salak.
Ced Domingo led Akari with 14 points on nine attacks, four kill blocks, and one ace, while Fifi Sharma contributed 13 points on nine attacks and four rejections.
Soyud added 12 points on 11 attacks and one block, and veteran Grethcel Soltones battled through the flu to finish with eight points and eight excellent receptions.
Setting up the offense was Mars Alba, who distributed 27 excellent sets along with four points, while team captain Justine Jazareno tallied 15 excellent digs.
(C) PVL Images
Galeries Tower, meanwhile, will officially enter the play-in round after dropping to 2-8, remaining in ninth place.
Aiza Maizo-Pontillas led the Highrisers with 17 points, while Raagas posted 14 markers and nine excellent receptions in her best performance for the new squad.
Jean Asis added 13 points, and Erika Deloria recorded 10 points, 12 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions. Julia Coronel contributed 19 excellent sets and six points.
Galeries Tower will aim to end the preliminaries on a high note against Capital1 on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Filoil Centre.
