AKARI pulled the plug on Galeries Tower’s fairy tale run, 19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-12 to complete the series sweep in Game Two of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
Down 4-9 in the fifth-set tiebreak, Jewel Encarnacion fueled a 5-0 Galeries Tower blitz only to be negated by a masterful Akari one-two punch in Grethcel Soltones and Eli Soyud who dealt the final blow to complete the five-set combeack.
Eli Soyud sparked the Chargers’ late comeback with 20 points on 18 attacks, one block and one ace.
The Chargers are back in the Final Four after a breakthrough finals appearance in last year’s Reinforced Conference where they lost to Creamline in the knockout title game in straight sets.
Following No. 5-seed Choco Mucho’s lead, sixth-ranked Akari became the second semis entrant this conference. Both teams were the lower seeds in their respective playoff series.
Whatever happens come the next round, Akari will be assured of at least its second-best campaign in seven conferences over a three-year stretch.
The Chargers finished seventh twice, eighth twice and tenth once before breaking into the top two last year.
Meanwhile, Galeries Tower signed off on its best PVL campaign yet capped by a seismic four-set upset of powerhouse side Cignal in the qualifying round.
Three dismal conferences later, the Highrisers are set for their best-ever finish among one of the top eight teams.
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