At two sets down and their hopes for the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference bronze medal dimming under the Araneta Coliseum lights, the Akari Chargers looked like a team on the brink. The Choco Mucho Flying Titans had them cornered – strong hits, relentless blocks, and the ever-lethal Sisi Rondina soaring over the net.
But under that intense pressure, the Chargers rediscovered their spark, mounting a spirited comeback to secure a 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-11 victory at the start of their best-of-three series for third place, thrilling a huge crowd on Tuesday.
And at the heart of it was a gem of a libero in Justine Jazareno.
With the Flying Titans pressing hard, Rondina launched rocket after rocket toward Akari’s side. Most liberos would’ve crumbled under that barrage.
Not Jazareno.
She danced on the floor like it was instinct, not effort – diving, sliding, anticipating and absorbing every blow. Twenty-nine excellent digs, most of them off what should’ve been kill shots.
Her efficiency? A stunning 60 percent, against one of the best offensive players in the league.
“Sinabi lang namin sa isa’t isa na kapitan natin ‘yung Set 3. Magte-turnaround ‘to pag nakuha natin ‘yun,” she said after the match and earning the game's top honors.
It wasn’t a quote. It was a prophecy.
In Set 3, Akari stormed out with a different look – no longer rattled, but roaring. The Chargers blitzed the Flying Titans by 10 points, riding on the defensive energy Jazareno had sparked.
Set 4? Same story.
Set 5? Even better.
Though Choco Mucho tied it three times, the Chargers never blinked. Every shaky serve, every wild swing from their rivals added fuel to Akari’s fire.
And when the moment came – 14-11, match point, and chaos unfolding from a scrambled play – it was Grethcel Soltones who dropped the ball just right.
But it was Jazareno’s defense that made that moment possible.
On the stat sheet, Eli Soyud sizzled with 24 points. Lacsina bounced back with 20. Soltones chipped in 15.
But the unsung star and the backbone? It was Jazareno, who played not just for the win, but for her team, her family, and her baby, Austin.
“We needed this win to prove ourselves to those who believe in us,” said Jazareno, a most sought-after libero in the Alas Pilipinas national team tryouts wishlist,
Akari out-attacked Choco Mucho, 60-45, and served eight aces against its rival’s five, but the Flying Titans led in blocks, 15-9.
Rondina paced Choco Mucho with 18 points, next to Royse Tubino’s top-scoring 19 markers while Isa Molde contributed 10 points.
Meanwhile, the Chargers now stand just one win away from bronze. And if defense wins big-time games, Jazareno just gave her team the blueprint.
