Akari Chargers’ Ced Domingo.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Akari proved too much for its sister team Nxled after hammering out a 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 victory in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Saturday night at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
The troika of Fifi Sharma, Ced Domingo and Grethcel Soltones carried the Chargers (2-3) to a bounce-back win following a loss to the Petro Gazz Angels.
“Naging effective yung preparation namin, especially pinukpok ko talaga yung middles doon sa blockings,” Akari coach Raffy Mosuela said. “Ang instruction ko kay Mich [Cobb], once na good pass is activate niya lagi yung middle.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
“Blocking naging effective nga kasi yung outside hitter nila, yung go-to guy nila, yun ang kailangan namin ma-eliminate. Okay naman, nangyari naman.”
Sharma accounted for half of Akari’s points from blocks and finished with 13 points while Domingo delivered her best performance in a Chargers’ uniform with 12 points on 10 attacks and two blocks. Soltones added another 10, three coming off aces.
“Just overall very happy because everybody evidently worked altogether, efficiently as well so this is a big win for us kasi we worked really hard throughout the past few weeks to get a win like this,” Sharma said.
Akari overpowered Nxled with a 41-31 attack advantage while also smothering the Chameleons with 12 blocks, six coming in the opening frame alone.
Nxled attempted to extend the match with a scoring run late in the decider before Domingo, who showed more chemistry with setter Cobb, nailed a running attack for the match point.
Cobb distributed the ball with 14 excellent sets as Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Faith Nisperos contributed eight points apiece.
Lycha Ebon led Nxled’s effort to follow up on its win against Galeries Tower on Tuesday with 11 points but fell short as the Chameleons sank to its fourth loss in five games.
Akari will try to replicate its performance when it faces Choco Mucho, which is riding a four-game win streak, next Saturday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Nxled will have a 10-day break as it looks to bounce back when it faces Chery Tiggo on March 26 at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.