By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Akari Chargers continued to turn heads in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference after stunning the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in just four sets, 25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-22, last November 15, 2022.
Eager to rack up their fourth-straight win, the Cargo Movers fought a laser-focused Akari team led by no other than their veteran import Prisilla Rivera who took over the game when it mattered the most.
The three-time Olympian and Dominican Republic legend carried the Akari scoring load in the crucial stretches of the game and finished with 32 points built from 29 successful attacks.
Rivera also took charge of the Chargers’ defense and tallied three successful blocks with two of them coming from the fourth set that helped them balloon their lead.
Akari immediately imposed their will in the first set and bullied F2’s loose middle blocking led by former Ateneo de Manila University star Jhoana Maraguinot.
Deadlocked at 14-all, Maraguinot kick-started Akari’s offensive rally and scored four contested spikes that helped them gain the game’s momentum.
The Cargo Movers stormed back in the second set after another Kim Kianna Dy explosion backstopped by Lindsay Stalzer but the Chargers weren’t to be denied and played flawlessly in the last two sets.
Jaja Maraguinot, Jhoana’s sister, also became the ex-factor after outdueling Kim Fajardo in the set department.
The former Ateneo orchestrator dished out 19 excellent sets and fed the rolling Rivera when they needed sure points.
“Of course, it’s always a good win and I’m happy about that. It’s always a challenge being the youngest one but we’re heading into this tournament with a lot of chances… finally, maybe we got the spirits up of this team,” said Akari head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
On the other hand, the Cargo Movers snapped their winning streak and are now in a must-win situation for their two remaining games.
F2 Logistics will set up a duel with the Cignal HD Spikers on Saturday followed by another heavy matchup against the Petro Gazz Angels on November 22.
Currently, the Cargo Movers are in a three-way tie with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the HD Spikers who also hold a 3-3 win-loss record.
If the Cargo Movers sweep their remaining games, then they will most probably qualify for the upcoming PVL playoffs.
