For two teams that endured grueling five-set battles in the quarterfinals, going the distance once more seemed inevitable for Akari and Choco Mucho.
But even after another exhausting duel, neither team backed down, fighting through an extended fifth set that saw the Chargers emerge victorious in a 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 16-14 triumph, securing a crucial head-start in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
Unlike their previous five-set escapes against Galeries Tower and PLDT, this two-hour, 15-minute classic match was filled with drama, tension and a jaw-dropping conclusion – one that few saw coming.
Seemingly on the brink of defeat, trailing 8-12 in the final set, Akari pulled off one of the most riveting turnarounds in league history, stunning Choco Mucho with a scorching 8-2 run. The Ynares Center crowd in Antipolo, mostly rooting for the Flying Titans, was left in silence as the Chargers flipped the script in stunning fashion.
It all started with Grethcel Soltones, whose consecutive points, including an ace against Sisi Rondina, sparked the improbable fightback. Choco Mucho briefly halted Akari’s surge with Isa Molde’s crosscourt hit, but the Chargers kept pressing.
A challenge call proved pivotal, as replays confirmed Faith Nisperos’ attack grazed Deanna Wong’s fingers, keeping Akari within striking distance. Still, the Flying Titans looked poised to close out the match when Rondina hammered a shot for a 14-11 lead.
But just when it seemed like Choco Mucho had it in the bag, the game took a stunning turn.
A rare Regine Arocha service error gifted Akari a crucial break. Nisperos followed with a laser to Zone 5, and Michelle Cobb, reprising an earlier moment of brilliance, foiled Rondina’s attack, leveling the score at 14.
From there, momentum fully shifted.
Rondina, looking for redemption, fired a shot that sailed just long – putting Akari at match point for the first time. Then, in a frantic rally, the Chargers defended a soft Rondina attack with ease, setting up Nisperos, who delivered the knockout blow – a sharp crosscourt shot that landed just inside the sideline.
With that, the Chargers erupted in celebration, capping off one of the most thrilling comebacks in PVL history.
Eli Soyud, who delivered a career-high 34 points, including seven kill blocks, summed up Akari’s fighting spirit: “Kumapit lang kami sa bawa’t isa. Walang bibitaw kasi atin ‘to!”
And no one let go – not Soyud, Soltones, Nisperos, Cobb, nor the Chargers, who now stand just one step away from making another trip to the finals.
Ced Domingo also played a crucial role in Akari’s win, scoring 14 points, including three blocks, while Nisperos tallied 11 markers, none bigger than the match-clinching crosscourt hit. The Chargers also overcame a quiet performance from Ivy Lacsina, who finished with just eight points.
Soltones and Camille Victoria chipped in five points each, while Cobb orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 24 excellent sets and adding two block points for good measure.
On the other side, it was a heartbreaking loss for Choco Mucho, despite Sisi Rondina’s 29-point explosion. Royse Tubino added 14 markers, while Isa Molde and Lorraine Pecana contributed 11 and seven points, respectively.
But in the end, the Flying Titans, who fended off the Chargers’ late rally in the fourth set to force a decider, could only blame themselves for squandering a commanding 14-11 lead in the final set, allowing the Chargers to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Meanwhile, to enhance officiating, the PVL has enlisted two Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) referees for the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference semifinals onward.
Hong Kong’s Adams Wong and Thailand’s Sari Hmogmungmuang will alternate as first referees in the semis, bronze medal matches, and finals, supported by local officials.
“They will officiate most, if not all, of the remaining games,” said PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo. “Mr. Wong will handle the first game, Ms. Sari the second, with local referees Ms. Joy de Imus and Ms. Jocelyn del Rosario assisting.”
Wong and de Imus will officiate the Choco Mucho vs. Akari match, while Hmogmungmuang and del Rosario will oversee Creamline vs. Petro Gazz.
Malonzo emphasized that this initiative ensures world-class, unbiased officiating.
“These neutral referees have no team affiliations. This move reinforces fairness and our commitment to excellence,” he said.
Before the season, PVL and the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) laid the groundwork by appointing Yul Benosa, PNVF Referees Commission chairman, to oversee officiating.
Akari seized the swing set in dramatic fashion. Trailing 15-19, the Chargers mounted a spirited comeback, fueled by relentless hitting and solid net defense. In a stunning finish, setter Cobb capped their rally with an emphatic block on Molde, sealing the victory in style.
Soyud spearheaded Akari’s fiery run with back-to-back kills, while Victoria stepped up with a clutch block on Rondina, denying her a crucial point. A service error from Molde then leveled the score at 23, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion.
Under intense pressure, the Flying Titans faltered. Tubino committed a costly attack error after a frantic exchange of hits and digs, and in a fitting finale, Cobb rose to the occasion, swatting away Molde’s set-tying attempt to complete Akari’s remarkable turnaround.
Both teams tallied 13 attack points in the frame, with neither gaining a clear edge in unforced errors. However, the Chargers dominated at the net, racking up six kill blocks compared to the Flying Titans' lone rejection, a testament to their defensive prowess.
