Prisilla Rivera delivered a gem of farewell performance for Akari and Filipino fans, firing 32 points and steering the Chargers to a shock 25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-22 victory over the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Tuesday in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Not only did the victory stall the F2 Logistics’ drive to the semis, but it also boosted the bids of the Cignal HD Spikers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, who caught up with the stunned Cargo Movers at 3-3 entering the final stretch of the elims.
The Chargers were already out of the semis race even before they set out for their final match in their maiden campaign but the stirring victory brought a lot of positives for the team gearing up for a better, stronger campaign next season.
Akari wound up with a 3-5 slate.
Riviera scored all but one of Akari’s last five points, the last a crisp backrow kill that put the team at match point, 24-22, before F2 import Lindsay Stalzer unloaded her own backrow bid that however went wide, triggering a big celebration for the Chargers.
Rivera capped her impressive stint here with 32 points, including 29 attacks and three blocks, with the three-time Olympian expressing her heartfelt thanks to Filipino fans through a message written on the bandage on her left hand.
"I thank the Filipino fans for their kindness and warmness," said Rivera through coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito.
