MANILA, Philippines – At the FilOil EcoOil Centre in Pasig on Thursday night, Akari maintained its lead in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminary round by defeating a significantly improved ZUS Coffee team 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, and 25-23.

Ivy Lacsina and Faith Nisperos were key players who broke a 23-all deadlock in the fourth set with consecutive kills, ending the Thunderbelles’ chances of a comeback.

The Chargers’ triumph, which lasted one hour and fifty-two minutes, was their second straight victory and set the stage for another exciting start, similar to their incredible run in the previous Reinforced Conference, where they advanced to their first-ever finals.

After faltering in the third set, Akari appeared ready to win the match in the fourth set, jumping out to a 22-18 lead and then retaining a 23-20 advantage.

To tie the match and force a decisive set, the Thunderbelles, spearheaded by rookie sensation Thea Gagate, mounted a valiant comeback, scoring three points in a row. But in response, the Chargers set up Nisperos for a vital right-wing basket, and they won thanks to Lacsina’s scathing crosscourt attack on the opposing side.

Lacsina, who finished with 24 points (22 on attacks), credited the team’s unwavering attitude, collaboration, and dedication to coach Taka Minowa’s philosophy for the victory.

Lacsina acknowledged that the process was time-consuming and stressful as she thought back on the lengthy road the team had taken to gain trust. To realize its full potential, he pointed out, their performance still needed to be improved. Despite this, Lacsina credited their latest triumph to a combination of their coach’s strategic plan, their teamwork, and the will and passion of every player on the floor. He thought these factors were essential to their success. As they continue to work toward growth, the team’s dedication to teamwork and perseverance highlighted their accomplishments and bolstered their confidence going forward, emphasizing the need for discipline and unity.

Lacsina’s thoughts demonstrated the team’s continuous development, showing a commitment to improving their cohesiveness and performance in addition to winning.

With seasoned players Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chay Troncoso leading the way and Kate Santiago and Mich Gamit providing strong backup, the Thunderbelles, who lost all of their games in the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conferences the previous season, displayed newfound energy. In a fierce fourth set, they stayed up with the Chargers because of Gagate’s strength and Cloanne Mondonedo’s skillful playmaking.

The Thunderbelles took advantage of the Chargers’ brief slip-up in the third session to surge to a 17-9 lead before securing the victory with a rare Lacsina attack blunder, preventing a sweep.

Despite ZUS Coffee’s strong performance, Akari’s composure and endgame acumen ultimately helped them win, solidifying their position as a strong competitor in the league’s main event, which is hosted by Sports Vision.

Grethcel Soltones recovered just in time to produce pivotal hits, finishing with a good 10-point effort, while Eli Soyud gave Lacsina another powerful 15-point performance. The Chargers scored 57 attack points, with Lacsina recording an outstanding 51 percent attack efficiency. Fifi Sharma contributed seven points, and Camille Victoria contributed six.

Closely Contested

ZUS Coffee edged out a slight advantage in service aces with a 6-5 lead, while both teams displayed solid net defense, each tallying eight blocks. The defensive prowess on both sides contributed to a hard-fought game, where strong plays at the net and strategic positioning underscored each team’s determination to control the match.

Despite experiencing some offensive challenges, Soltones made a significant impact with her versatile play for Akari, bolstering the team’s defense with an impressive 11 digs and 11 receptions. Her all-around performance proved essential in Akari’s efforts to counterbalance ZUS Coffee’s offense and maintain a competitive edge throughout the game.

Even though her team lost, Gagate showed off her incredible talent in her league debut, scoring a team-high 13 points. Jovelyn Gonzaga contributed eight points and invaluable experience, while Kate Santiago and Mich Gamit each scored twelve points to provide vital support. Chai Troncoso also scored seven points in her brief outing in two sets. The variety of goals scored by players on both sides demonstrated the breadth of skill and tenacity, portending a successful season for both Akari and ZUS Coffee.