When the stakes were highest, Eli Soyud stood tallest.
With Akari teetering on the brink of defeat, Soyud delivered a clutch performance that propelled the Chargers to a thrilling five-set win over Galeries Tower in Game 1 of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Saturday.
Soyud, a seasoned opposite spiker, emerged as the perfect complement to Akari's star hitter Ivy Lacsina, who erupted for a game-high 28 points. The 29-year-old from Bago, Negros Occidental chipped in 19 points, including 18 powerful attacks that kept the Chargers in the fight until the very end.
The victory did not come easy. Akari had to claw their way back from a 1-2 set deficit before storming past Galeries Tower, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11, to move one step closer to a semifinals berth.
"Nag-stick lang ako sa system ni Coach Taka (Minowa) and siyempre 'yung tiwala din ng teammates ko na 'Sige lang, paluin mo. Kami na bahala mag-cover.' 'Yun yung nag-boost din sa akin na paluin ko lang basta andiyan naman sila naka-alalay," Soyud shared, reflecting on her crucial role in Akari's victory.
The triumph marked a significant step for Soyud, who stepped into the starting opposite spiker role following the departure of American import Oly Okaro — a key figure in Akari's finals run during last season's Invitational Conference.
"Siyempre malaking challenge sa akin," Soyud admitted. "Yun nga laging mine-mention ni coach na malaking nawala sa amin nung Reinforced si Oly."
Despite the pressure, Soyud rose to the occasion, fueled by the unwavering trust of her teammates and the guidance of Japanese head coach Taka Minowa. With Minowa's disciplined system in place, Soyud knew her role was bigger than just scoring points.
"Kailangan ko lang talaga maging consistent and kailangan kong tumulong sa kung hindi man ako makapalo, siyempre sa blockings, sa depensa," she explained. "'Yun lang din yung pinanghahawakan ko — yung tiwala ni coach Taka and yung mga info na binibigay sa akin ng coaches."
Soyud's growth reflects Minowa's demanding yet effective training style, which she credited for sharpening her skills and reinforcing Akari's team-first mentality.
"Tulad ng sinabi ko kanina, pinaghugutan lang namin yung isa't isa," she said. "At yun yung sinabi ni Ivy na sa loob pag naghuhuddle kami ang sinasabi namin, atin 'to, atin 'to."
For Soyud and her teammates, the victory was a testament to their relentless preparation.
"Ipapanalo natin 'to para hindi na tayo mahirapan kasi pinaghirapan natin 'to sa training," Soyud recalled. "Sobrang grabe yung training namin, yon nagbuga naman today."
