PVL: Unbeaten Akari survives Galeries to secure quarters slot

Akari Chargers against Galeries Tower Highrisers in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Akari barely kept its perfect record intact in the second round of the PVL Reinforced Conference after it was pushed to the limit by Galeries Tower, 23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 22-25, 18-16, on Saturday at PhilSports Arena.

Oly Okaro produced her second-best scoring game with 32 points, 28 from attacks and four from Akari’s 16 total blocks, to assure the Chargers of their first quarterfinal appearance on top of an unblemished six-game winning streak to open Pool D action.

“My performance individually … was okay. I didn’t think I came through in the moments that I really needed to … in the fifth set at least,” the American import said. “There’s a lot of things that I can still work on and I think as a team, there’s a lot that we can work on.”

READ: PVL: Complacency last thing on Akari Chargers’ minds

Oly Okaro and Grethcel Soltones after surviving Galeries to keep Akari unbeaten. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/cviE1L8MT1

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 10, 2024

Ivy Lacsina provided enough support for Okaro with 20 points, 17 off attacks while Grethcel Soltones also stepped up with 13 points including clutch kills in the extended fifth set.

The Chargers could not have sneaked past the Highrisers with their offense alone as Soltones also picked up 11 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions to help liberos Dani Ravena (18 excellent digs) and Max Juangco (14 excellent receptions).

Kamille Cal activated her attackers with 19 excellent sets that went with four points.

Galeries Tower, however, did not go down without a fight with the help of its trademark floor defense allowing it to pose a threat to Akari’s best franchise start.

That defensive presence allowed the Highrisers to come up with more offensive chances but were just unable to finish strong even with a 56-49 excellent dig advantage and a 45-36 excellent reception edge.

READ: Ced Domingo says coach, newcomers key to Akari’s best start

Chuewulim Sutadta posted 20 points, all but one from kills, with the help of Renee Mabilangan’s 15 excellent sets that also benefited Roselle Baliton and France Ronquillo, both of whom finished with 12 points.

Alyssa Eroa’s 21 excellent digs and 30 excellent receptions best showed the level of fight displayed by Galeries Tower which still can’t find a first win in six losses.

Akari looked like it was going to suffer an upset after losing the opening frame but manufactured an 18-5 run to steal the second set.

After sending the match to the decider, the Highrisers were even able to secure a 10-7 advantage as they fired at will and crucial attack errors by Okaro.

Galeries Tower committed errors as Okaro rediscovered her lethal form, 12-11, before Akari unleashed the beast in Soltones with back-to-back clutch points for the tie, 14-all.

“I already asked for the ball [in the crucial fifth set]. I told [Cal] to give me the ball but don’t set it too fast so I can see the blockers,” Soltones said.

Soltones brought the game to a deadlock for the last time at 16-all courtesy of a cross-court kill before Okaro’s finishing touches.

“We trusted each other so I guess there was no longer fear in anyone to attack because we were right behind each other,” she added.