Akari ended the conference victorious after ripping apart Strong Group in straight sets, 25-8, 25-15, 25-16, in the final day of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
The Chargers set the tone early with a lopsided 25-8 win in the first set and never looked back en route to finishing the tournament in seventh place with a 5-6 win-loss record.
“I think samin, it’s just really about ending the season well. We’ve been through a lot of tough losses so parang siguro, okay na rin na ganito yung ending namin despite na hindi namin na-achieve yung goal namin this season,” said Akari team captain Michelle Cobb.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat top scored for Akari with a game-high 12 points on nine attacks, two blocks, and one ace in the 66-minute match.
Grethcel Soltones, who only played in the first two sets to catch her flight to Cebu, delivered nine points and 13 excellent digs while Faith Nisperos had nine markers and 10 excellent receptions.
Birthday girl Fifi Sharma finished with nine points as well, including five kill blocks to bolster the Chargers’ net defense.
Jaja Maraguinot glued things together for the undermanned Akari, who missed Ced Domingo, Trisha Genesis, and Erika Raagas in their final match, with 15 excellent sets while Max Juangco stepped up defensively with 15 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.
“Hopefully, this is just all part of the process for Akari and the whole franchise,” said Cobb.
On the other hand, the Athletics went winless in their first run in the PVL after losing all 11 games.
Souzan Raslan paced SGA with 10 points, all from attacks, to lead the team while team captain Dolly Versoza gathered four points, 12 excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions.
