Akari pulled through in a wild second set skirmish, dominated the third frame then scrambled again in the next to hack out a 21-25, 26-24, 25-15, 25-21 decision over a surprisingly tough Farm Fresh side in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino elims at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Thursday.
The Chargers avoided falling into a 0-2 set hole as they saved one match point in a frenetic exchange of power hits, digs and saves then pounced on the Foxies' miscue in the ensuing play before Fifi Sharma foiled a Farm Fresh assault to snatch the crucial set win for Akari.
Regaining their composure, the Chargers broke away from another tight duel in the swing set and took it via a 10-point romp on an Erika Raagas kill then endured another furious endgame battle of power and poise in the fourth to hack out the victory and sustain the team’s best start since joining the league last year.
Akari placed eighth in the PVL Reinforced Conference last year, posted the same finish in the first All-Filipino last Marhc and wound up 10th in the PVL Invitational while also notching the franchise's first-ever winning streak.
But with a 3-1 (win-loss) slate, that included reversals over the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, the Chargers suddenly found themselves trailing the unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers (3-0) and the Petro Gazz Angels (2-0).
“It’s always good to win no matter how. But I’m very proud of my team, even if we lose I’m proud of them because I know they fight. The point is we keep on working, no matter if we play five sets. I’m really confident in these guys and I know it’s only the beginning,” said Akari coach Jorge de Brito.
Dindin Manabat continued to provide the leadership and firepower for the Chargers and delivered 22 points, including 19 on attacks, and Brito drew three other double-digit outputs from Faith Nisperos (15 points, Sharma (14 points and Raagas (13 points) to underscore the team’s balanced offensive sock.
“We are motivated to get that podium finish this season,” said Raagas, who came through with nine attack points and four blocks. “We’re hungry to win and I think now that we have the people that we need, the things that were lacking the past season, we’re now more than ready to fight (for that podium finish).”
The Foxies also came into the match to fight, shocking the Chargers in the opening set behind the combo of Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Rizza Cruz, Aprylle Tagsip and Jade Gentapa.
They were actually poised to go 2-0 after seizing a 23-21 lead on a Cruz running attack. And though Raagas and Nisperos tied it for the 15th time in the set, Farm Fresh still moved to match point on a Manabat attack error.
But they lost their way in the next scrambling sequence of returns and failed to carry out their offensive patterns, leading to a violation and a block.
Still, the Foxies dished out their best game yet with the lefty Tubu posting a game-high 24-point exploits, that included four blocks and two aces, Santiago coming away with 15 hits and Cruz adding 11 markers. Tagsip and Gentapa also combined for 13 points for Farm Fresh, which fell to 0-4.
