Akari transformed a game of uncertainties into a campaign brimming with hope, rallying back from a 0-2 set deficit to stun Choco Mucho, 18-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-13, and notch its second consecutive victory in Pool B of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Tuesday night.
American Oly Okaro delivered an outstanding 38-point performance, single-handedly carrying the Chargers from the brink in the third frame and maintaining her extraordinary form in the subsequent sets. She fittingly capped her exploits with an off-the-block hit on her second attempt, sealing their improbable two-hour and 24-minute victory to match the Cignal HD Spikers' 2-0 start.
“We definitely started the game poorly…we were tense at the beginning. But after we collectively loosened up, we started coming back,” said Okaro amidst the celebrations of their come-from-behind win, which followed their four-set triumph over the Capital1 Solar Spikers last Thursday.
Choco Mucho fell to a 0-2 record.
Okaro’s 38 points thus ranked as the fifth highest in the import-laden conference, six points shy of Prisilla Rivera’s 44 points, which also led Akari past Choco Mucho in five sets on Nov. 3, 2022.
However, it wasn’t solely Okaro’s show. The inspired locals also stepped up significantly, including setter Kamille Cal, whose excellent playmaking resulted in better passing for the team, which also trailed by six points early in the fourth set.
Okaro unleashed back-to-back hits to start the decider, and an Ivy Lacsina crosscourt hit put Akari up 3-0, leading to a 6-3 advantage. The Flying Titans then scored three consecutive points to draw level and took three of the next four points to gain a 9-7 edge.
However, an Okaro drop shot following a successful challenge sparked the Chargers’ decisive comeback, aided by Royse Tubino and Dindin Manabat’s errors, allowing Akari to regain a 10-9 lead.
After Tubino tied it with an off-the-block hit, Grethcel Soltones scored, and Camille Victoria blocked Tubino’s attack, giving the Chargers a 12-10 cushion.
Tubino’s backrow attack pulled Choco Mucho closer, but Okaro’s crosscourt hit and Lacsina’s blast brought the Chargers to match point, 14-11.
Manabat saved two match points as the Chargers struggled to close out the Flying Titans, with Okaro getting blocked on her first try before redeeming herself with a powerful clincher that landed outside.
Soltones finished with 12 points, Lacsina contributed 10, and Victoria, Ced Domingo, Joy Soyud, and Cal collectively added 21 points for the Taka Minowa-coached Chargers, who delivered a total of 66 attack points, 13 more than the Flying Titans.
Cal stood out with 22 excellent sets, while Soltones also shining defensively with 13 receptions and nine digs and Lacsina finishing with 12 excellent receptions.
Okaro’s fiery performance, along with the strong support from her teammates, effectively countered the 40 points the team conceded through errors, compared to the Flying Titans' 18 points given up on miscues.
But Choco Mucho, the silver medalist in the recent All-Filipino Conference, had virtually no answer for Okaro's onslaught, whose powerful hits from the backrow were as impactful as those from the wing.
Manabat scored 16 points against her former team, while Zoi Faki and Tubino each contributed 14 points for the Flying Titans, who also drew nine points each from Maika Ortiz and Maddie Madayag.
