Akari drew strength from its captain Michelle Cobb when she left the game early after injuring her neck in the second set, completing a comeback against their sister team Nxled.
The Chameleons, winless in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, took the first set 25-21, but the Chargers dominated the next three sets, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18, to return to their winning ways.
With Akari leading 5-3 in the second set, an unfortunate incident occurred when Cobb, while chasing a second ball, got stuck during a roll, causing her weight to fall onto her neck.
The 5-foot-4 setter from La Salle was stretchered off the court to the dugout, and after some assessment, she was taken to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan.
Despite losing their captain, the Chargers rallied with four players reaching double figures, led by Ivy Lacsina’s 17 points, followed by Eli Soyud and Faith Nisperos with 15 points each.
(C) PVL Images
“Siguro po mas kinuhanan namin ng lakas ng loob si Ate Mich kasi siyempre po para sa kanya din tong laro na to. Kaya kami nagstay focused dahil nga po doon sa binubuo naming culture ng team doon kami nagstick sa tinuturo ni coach habang naglalaro,” said Lacsina.
“Gusto din ni Mich maglaro kami as one and ipanalo yung game ngayon para din sa kumpiyansa ng team so mas ginalingan namin and humugot kami ng lakas doon,” added Soyud.
In a courtside report by Sam Corrales shortly after the incident, she shared that Cobb was responsive in the dugout, not feeling pain in her neck, and not dizzy.
Cams Victoria contributed 10 points, while Fifi Sharma added seven. Kamille Cal, who replaced Cobb, finished with 12 excellent sets and six points.
Cal was also not at 100 percent, feeling some pain in her elbow before the game, yet she performed exceptionally.
The Chargers now hold a 4-4 record, placing them solo seventh with three games left in the preliminaries against Capital1, Choco Mucho, and Cignal.
