Akari charged back from a pair of four-set setbacks, essaying a decisive shutout victory over Farm Fresh, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22, to get into the mix in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig Tuesday night.
Despite facing some tense moments in the third set, the Chargers eventually prevailed behind Fifi Sharma’s powerful plays and Akari’s formidable blocking while cashing in on Farm Fresh’s late-game struggles.
Skipper Michelle Cobb, orchestrating the team’s strategy with 16 excellent sets and contributing three points and six digs, accentuated the significance of the win, saying: “This win is particularly fulfilling as we accomplished it in three sets. It’s truly a team effort and we’re slowly building the composition.”
The addition of Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo to the team bolstered the Chargers, leading to dominant performances in the initial two sets. However, Farm Fresh, led by Trisha Tubu, Chinnie Arroyo and Kate Santiago, posed a challenge in the third frame.
“Credit to the players, ginawa talaga nila yung game plan namin, kung ano man yung napag-aralan namin sa Farm Fresh, nakita naman yung result,” said Akari coach Raffy Mosuela, who drew 16 points from Soltones, 14 markers from Joy Soyud and 10 points from Erika Raagas.
“Happy kasi syempre bago ako sa Akari and hindi ako nahirapan makisama. Super may connection na kami so far,” said Soltones, who also made 10 excellent receptions.
Domingo also made her presence felt in the middle, scoring nine points while Sharma wound up with eight markers and libero Shiela Pineda anchored the team’s defense with 20 excellent digs.
The Foxies appeared headed to extending the match after grabbing a 20-18 lead on an Arroyo blast. But Sharma’s running attacks and the team’s solid net defense, including impactful blocks from Cobb and Soltones, thwarted Farm Fresh’s attempts.
A decisive 7-2 closing run, culminating in a Soyud backrow attack to an open Zone 1, exposed the Foxies’ weak floor defense.
The victory, which came after Akari fell to Cignal and Creamline, thus tied the Chargers with the Foxies and the Capital1 Solar Spikers at 1-2 in the standings, setting the stage for a tight race to the semis. Choco Mucho currently lords it over the 12-team field with three straight victories.
Despite the absence of Faith Nisperos, the Chargers, behind Soltones’ stellar play, dominated with 47 spikes, outpacing the Foxies by 14, and imposed their will upfront with 11 blocks compared to Farm Fresh’s three.
The team’s proficiency in attacking and blocking compensated for their own miscues, with 18 unforced errors against the Foxies’ 13.
Tubu finished with 10 points while Arroyo and Santiago scored nine and seven points, respectively, for the Foxies.
