HOW about that for a first win?
Akari snapped a three-game skid with a 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22 rout of sister team Nxled in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday.
The victory marked Akari’s first win of the conference and extended its dominance over the Chameleons to five straight head-to-head triumphs over the past two years.
For Nxled, the loss was another setback after also dropping a match to struggling Galeries Tower, absorbing back-to-back defeats against teams previously carrying losing records.
Mars Alba posted 22 excellent sets and five attacks as the Chargers finally break their conference-opening slump.
As a result, there are no more winless teams in the tournament.
"I don't think there's really pressure. It's more on us as a team kung paano kami mag-bounce back," said Ced Domingo, who dominated the middle with 17 points built on 14 attacks, two blocks, and an ace.
"I'm really happy kasi kahit na we're losing, the morale of the team is not going down. Parang it's more eager pa para bumawi for the next game."
Still reeling from a shock loss to Galeries Tower, Nxled never quite regained its usual firepower and dropped the first two sets against an Akari side that entered the match winless.
The Chameleons finally showed signs of life in the third frame, mounting a strong push to extend the match.
After Eli Soyud capped a 5-1 Akari run for a 22-20 lead, Nxled answered with a decisive 5-1 counterattack behind clutch hits from Jonah Sabete-Escamillan, a Djanel Cheng ace, and a Kamille Cal service error to steal the set.
Nxled tried to sustain the momentum in the fourth, with Brooke Van Sickle powering a surge that gave the Chameleons a 16-12 cushion.
But the red-hot Chargers refused to buckle, storming back and staying in control the rest of the way to secure a rousing first win.
Ivy Lacsina led Akari with a 20-point, 10-reception double-double, while Grethcel Soltones delivered a triple-double of 12 points, 14 digs, and 10 receptions.
Soyud chipped in 13 markers.
Light still dim
Nxled, meanwhile, continued to search for its lost rhythm despite steady outings from its former Petro Gazz star trio.
Van Sickle finished with 16 points, 13 digs, and seven receptions, Myla Pablo added 14 markers, and MJ Phillips returned from a brief rest to contribute 12 points. Sabete chipped in nine.
The Chameleons’ struggles persisted as their once-potent attack failed to fully click.
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