Akari finally found its rhythm and rediscovered the value of communication and cohesion, sweeping a struggling PLDT side, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, Tuesday night to snap its skid in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After contrasting setbacks to Creamline and Capital1 – a straight-set defeat and a five-set loss, respectively – the Chargers showed marked improvement on both ends, combining sharper execution, steadier defense and better on-court connection to seize their first victory of the campaign.
PLDT, meanwhile, remained plagued by inconsistent play and lapses in communication, unable to sustain its fightback in crucial stretches as the High Speed Hitters absorbed their third consecutive loss in the single-round-robin series.
For the Chargers, the one-hour, 28-minute victory provided a much-needed morale boost after a difficult start. For the High Speed Hitters, it was another frustrating setback, with Savi Davison’s late miscue reflecting a night marked by uneven execution and an inability to sustain momentum.
“We just enjoyed the game and responded to coach Ed’s (Orcullo) reminder that we played with passion,” said Akari libero Justine Jazareno, who earned Best Player of the Game honors after recording 15 digs and 31 percent reception efficiency.
Jazareno also pointed to the team’s chemistry and connection as key factors in the victory – qualities that proved particularly evident in Akari’s defensive coverage and ability to recover from difficult plays.
With Eli Soyud leading the charge with 12 points, the Chargers overpowered the High Speed Hitters, 41-30, while matching their opponents’ five blocks – a department PLDT is traditionally known to dominate.
More significantly, Akari capitalized on PLDT’s miscues to score 27 free points off errors, despite committing 22 of its own.
Fifi Sharma added seven points, while Jyne Soreño, Faith Nisperos and Ivy Lacsina contributed six points apiece to bolster the Chargers’ attack.
For PLDT, Jessa Ordiales paced the team with 10 points, but the High Speed Hitters’ vaunted firepower failed to fully materialize. Savi Davison, usually a potent scoring threat, was limited to five points, while Kim Dy added seven and Mika Reyes finished with four.
The contrasting performances carry added weight in the Siklab Series, where only the top four teams in the nine-team field advance to the crossover semifinals, with the top two enjoying twice-to-beat advantages.
With every elimination-round match crucial in the single-round-robin format, PLDT can ill afford further setbacks. The High Speed Hitters, one of the few teams to retain their roster largely intact, now find themselves in a precarious position alongside Galeries Tower, with their semifinal hopes increasingly under pressure.
Akari, on the other hand, will look to build on the victory as it seeks to turn improved communication, defensive discipline and team chemistry into sustained momentum.
Akari’s growing cohesion was evident in the way it responded to pressure, particularly in the second set, when the Chargers scrambled to save a powerful PLDT attack before Faith Nisperos anchored the sequence with an out-of-system back-row hit that stretched the lead to 22-13.
The High Speed Hitters tried to mount a rally, closing the gap to 16-22 behind Angge Alcantara’s back-to-back aces. But coach Orcullo called a timeout, and the Chargers regrouped, with Alcantara committing a service error on the ensuing play.
Akari then dug another PLDT attack, setting up an Ivy Lacsina hit that brought the Chargers to set point. PLDT managed to save three set points, including a Reyes putaway off an overpass, but Akari eventually shut the door as Sharya Ancheta and Soyud teamed up for a double block against Alleiah Malaluan to secure a commanding two-set advantage.
PLDT showed flashes of resistance in the third, racing to a 4-2 lead before Akari struck back with four straight points, highlighted by a Sharma ace and a Davison attack error.
The High Speed Hitters refused to fold, however, clawing back from an eight-point deficit to pull within 20-21. A three-point burst capped by Dy’s rejection of Lacsina brought PLDT within striking distance, but the Chargers answered with a timely Soyud blast after regrouping in a timeout.
PLDT continued to hang on, with Jovie Prado’s seemingly harmless shot finding its way over the net and dropping into an open spot to keep the deficit at one. But the High Speed Hitters failed to capitalize, as Ordiales mishandled a low set with a faulty push.
Reyes then connected on her trademark quick attack to make it a one-point game, but Akari took the final two points to seal the victory – first on a Davison attack error, then on Sharma’s running attack.
The closing sequence underscored the difference between the two sides: Akari remained composed and connected in the decisive moments, while PLDT’s costly errors continued to undermine its comeback attempts.
