Akari held its ground against a vastly-improved ZUS Coffee squad, pulling off a gripping 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23 victory to claim the early solo lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries on Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in Pasig.
Faith Nisperos and Ivy Lacsina emerged as clutch performers, delivering back-to-back kills that broke a 23-all tie in the fourth set and shattered the Thunderbelles’ comeback hopes.
The one-hour, 52-minute victory was the Chargers’ second consecutive win, setting the tone for another promising start akin to their remarkable run in the previous Reinforced Conference, where they reached their first-ever finals.
Despite a stumble in the third set, Akari seemed poised to secure the match in the fourth, surging to a 22-18 lead and later holding on to a 23-20 edge.
But the Thunderbelles, led by rookie standout Thea Gagate, launched a spirited rally, scoring three straight points to draw level and threaten to force a deciding set. However, the Chargers responded by setting up Nisperos for a crucial right-wing kill, and with Lacsina’s stinging crosscourt attack on the other side, they sealed the win.
Lacsina, who scored 24 points (22 on attacks), attributed the victory to teamwork, adherence to coach Taka Minowa’s system, and the team’s unwavering spirit.
“Sobrang haba ng process na pinagdaan namin to gain this confidence pero hindi pa ganun kapulido. Pero team work at sistema ni coach at puso ang nagpanalo sa amin,” said Lacsina.
The Thunderbelles, who dropped all their matches in the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conferences last season, showed renewed vigor under the leadership of seasoned players Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chay Troncoso, and solid backup from Kate Santiago and Mich Gamit. With Gagate’s firepower and the experienced playmaking of Cloanne Mondonedo, they kept pace with the Chargers in a high-intensity fourth set.
Capitalizing on the Chargers’ momentary lapse in the third frame, the Thunderbelles roared to a 17-9 lead before clinching the set off a rare Lacsina attack error, avoiding a sweep.
Despite ZUS Coffee’s impressive stand, Akari’s poise and endgame savvy ultimately propelled them to victory, establishing themselves as a formidable contender in the league’s centerpiece tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Eli Soyud provided another strong support for Lacsina with 15 points, while Grethcel Soltones bounced back just in time to deliver crucial hits, ending with a solid 10-point performance. Fifi Sharma added seven points, and Camille Victoria chipped in with six for the Chargers, who amassed 57 attack points, with Lacsina achieving an impressive 51 percent attack efficiency.
Both teams displayed strong defensive efforts at the net, each finishing with eight blocks, while ZUS Coffee held a slight edge in service aces, 6-5.
Although Soltones faced some offensive challenges for much of the match, she still contributed significantly with her all-around play, recording 11 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions to aid Akari’s defense.
