GAMES TOMORROW
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. – Akari vs. Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – Creamline vs. Petro Gazz
PLAYING under intense pressure, Akari mounted a spirited comeback to score a 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-11 victory over Choco Mucho last night in Game 1 of their battle for third place in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Standing at the heart of that comeback was libero Justine Jazareno who did all the things necessary – diving, sliding, anticipating and absorbing every blow. She had 29 excellent digs, most of them off what should’ve been kill shots.
Her efficiency was 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.
Also shining for the Chargers were Eli Soyud and Ivy Lacsina, who had a combined 44 markers.
With the win, the Chargers moved closer to snagging their first medal in the All-Filipino tourney.
Open spiker Grethcel Soltones made her presence felt in both offense and defense with a double-double outing of 15 points and 26 excellent receptions.
The trio of Soyud, Lacsina and Soltones led the Chargers’ offense with a team total of 60 attacks, compared to Choco Mucho’s 45.
“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 wish-list.
