UNDERMANNED Akari bounced back big yesterday, scoring a 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 win over sister-team Nxled in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
After losing last week when action resumed after the holiday break, the Chargers returned to the win column with Ivy Lacsina leading the offense with 17 points off 14 attacks, two service aces and a kill block, along with four excellent receptions.
Opposite spiker Eli Soyud also sparkled for the Chargers with 15 points, six from blocks; wing spiker Faith Nisperos delivered 15 markers along with eight excellent receptions while middle blocker Camille Victoria added 10.
Akari missed the services of aces Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo with knee issues while skipper Michelle Cobb suffered apparent neck pain after saving a ball early and needed to be stretchered out in the second set.
The Chargers improved their record to 4-4 while the Chameleons remained winless in seven matches.
The second set was a big turning point, with Akari leaning on Lacsina, Nisperos and Victoria to pull ahead. The third set, however, became the centerpiece of the match – a grueling 41-minute affair with 24 deadlocks.
In this pivotal set, Nxled’s Chiara Permentilla momentarily gave her team a 22-21 edge with a clutch hit. However, errors by the Chameleons allowed Akari to seize momentum, culminating in a decisive block by Victoria and a strong hit from Nisperos to clinch the set.
The Chameleons seemed poised to force a fifth set after storming to a 6-2 lead in the fourth. But the Chargers mounted a determined 8-4 rally to tie the game at 10. After a brief exchange of leads, Akari unleashed a 6-2 run to break away, ultimately closing out the match on a powerful Nisperos attack.
Lacsina took top-scoring honors for the third time this season, while Soyud’s six kill blocks underscored Akari’s dominance at the net, where they out-blocked Nxled 16-2. Nisperos added eight excellent receptions, and Justine Jazareno anchored the defense with 11 digs.
Permentilla delivered a game-high 20 points, but her performance was marred by several errors. Lucille May Almonte and Lycha Ebon added 13 and 11 points, respectively, while veteran Sheila Pineda contributed 14 digs and receptions in a solid defensive outing.
Despite winning the scoring battle in attacks (53-48) and serving nine aces to Akari’s six, the Chameleons were undone by unforced errors (27) and struggled to contain Akari’s imposing net defense.