By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Akari Chargers’ Cinderella run in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference is still alive after edging the Galeries Tower Highrisers in five sets, 23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 22-25, 18-16, to extend its unbeaten streak in six games on August 10, 2024, at the Philsports Arena.
It was a nail-biting game for the Chargers as the Highrisers already reached match point in the fifth and final set when Ivy Lacsina committed a costly service error.
However, coming into the rescue for Akari is the 1-2 punch star duo of Gretchel Soltones and Oly Okaro who joined hands to save the Chargers after providing the much-needed points in the most crucial stretch of the deciding period.
After Lacsina fumbled her service, Soltones prevented the Highrisers from taking the game when she answered back with a clutch point to level the contest at 14-all.
Galeries didn’t take too long to counter back with their own offensive point to return to the driver’s seat, 15-14, but Soltones once again stepped up to deadlock the match at 15-all.
It was then in the final four possessions of the game that the Chargers completed the fight back when Soltones tallied another point before Okaro scored two consecutive markers to seal the deal and steer Akari to their sixth straight win.
Okaro led the emphatic comeback for the Chargers and put up a team-high performance of 32 big points built from 28 successful attacks.
Aside from her offensive fireworks display, the reinforcement also covered their middle defensive area and registered four crucial blocks.
Meanwhile, the veteran Soltones stepped up when Akari needed her the most and backstopped Okaro with an all-around efficient display of 13 markers, 14 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs.
Kamille Cal, Akari’s emerging star setter, orchestrated her team’s blitzing attack with 19 excellent sets to go alongside four points.
After the hard-fought win over the Highrisers, the Chargers will aim for their seventh straight win on August 15, 2024, as they challenge their sister team NXLED Chameleons in the second game of the scheduled triple-header.
