With Ivy Lacsina struggling, Akari stepped up collectively to fill the gap and put away Galeries Tower for good, clinching a hard-fought 19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-12 victory in Game 2 to secure a spot in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
The trio of Eli Soyud, Faith Nisperos, and Grethcel Soltones stepped up as the Chargers once again overcame a 1-2 deficit–just like in the series opener–to put an end to the Highrisers’ Cinderella run.
Building off her brilliant 19-point performance in Game 1, Soyud delivered 20 points on 18 attacks, one ace, and one block to lead Akari’s second consecutive trip to the semifinals.
Nisperos, who only played one set and had three points in the opener, stepped up big with 15 points, 14 of which came from attacks, to go along with 13 excellent digs, while Soltones took over in the decider and finished with 13 markers.
Meanwhile, Lacsina–who was coming off a 28-point explosion in Game 1–was limited to just eight points in the semis-clinching victory.
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“Galeries is a good team. We don’t have any expectations to win this game. We just expect that it’s going to be a tough game. This is an opportunity to make this team better kasi all the experience goes into us as a team,” said Chargers head coach Taka Minowa.
After a dominant fourth-set performance that forced a deciding fifth frame, Akari surged to a 9-4 start, aiming to break away from Galeries early. However, rookie Jewel Encarnacion sparked a crucial 5-0 run, scoring three straight points—four in total—to even the scores at 9-all.
The deadlock continued at 11-all after Ysa Jimenez powered a shot through the block, followed by a Soltones attack error, neutralizing the former league Best Outside Hitter’s back-to-back hits.
Andrea Marzan, though, exerted too much power after hitting a floating ball to give the lead back to the Chargers, with a Soyud hit extending the lead to two, 13-11.
Ysa Jimenez cut the lead back to one with an off-the-block attack, before Encarnacion’s attack sailed out–pushing Akari at match point. Nisperos then rose for an emphatic hit to deliver the Chargers to the semifinals.
“Well as always, we always want to contribute and stay ready. Kasi what I like about our team is kahit sinong ipasok mo they know their role and kailangan lang namin i-mindset as players is to stay ready and that’s what we do all the time,” said Nisperos.
Akari lost Fifi Sharma due to an ankle sprain after landing on teammate Michelle Cobb following an attack attempt but managed to get contributions from middle blockers Ced Domingo and Camille Victoria, and Ezra Madrigal, who combined for 13 points.
Cobb, meanwhile, tossed 25 excellent sets to go along with three points, while Justine Jazareno registered 16 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions in the two-hour, 16-minute contest.
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On the other hand, the Highrisers, despite crashing out of the quarterfinals, still overachieved this conference by making it to the playoffs despite a tough elimination round campaign that saw them win only one game in 11 outings.
Encarnacion dropped 21 points to lead Galeries, while France Ronquillo put up an all-around showing of 16 points, 10 excellent digs, and 25 excellent receptions. Roselle Baliton added 14 points.
Julia Coronel dished out 19 excellent sets to go along with three points, while Alyssa Eroa tallied 24 excellent digs.
