AKARI just can’t seem to get away from five-setters.
For the third straight game, the Chargers found themselves in another grueling five-set marathon, this time fending off Choco Mucho, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 16-14, in their 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series clash on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
The Chargers rallied behind Eli Soyud and Ivy Lacsina in the latter part of extended fifth set before Mars Alba delivered the finishing blow with a block on former teammate Sisi Rondina-Rosales to seal the victory.
“Yung game kasi, game of momentum yan sa atin. Kahit gustuhin natin na mapa-iksi ng tatlong set, siyempre yung opponent mo, ginugusto rin ng makakuha talaga ng set niyan eh,” said assistant coach Ed Orcullo.
“Kung makikita mo half of the court talaga namang Choco Mucho. Actually, yung audience natin, malaking factor din doon sa naglalaro eh. Kaya nabo-boost yung morale nila,” he added.
Lacsina finished with 17 points built through 15 attacks and two blocks while Soyud also got her own 17 markers through 13 attacks, three denials, and one ace.
After back-to-back five-set outings, Akari looked poised to finish the match in four after taking a 2-1 set lead, but the Flying Titans had other plans.
Akari struck first after pulling away from an 18-15 deadlock midway through the opening set. The Chargers then leaned on a dump by Mars Alba to take the 1-0 set lead.
Choco Mucho’s second unit, meanwhile, came out on top in the neck-and-neck second frame as Caitlin Viray and Jewel Encarnacion delivered the finishing touches down the stretch to level the match.
Akari’s starters then brought back the energy in the third set, racing to a 6-1 start before completing a wire-to-wire victory to move ahead, 2-1.
However, Dante Alinsunurin’s wards refused to go down without a fight, rallying midway through the fourth set to build an 18-13 cushion before Maddie Madayag’s clutch serves forced a fifth set.
Fifi Sharma and Ced Domingo also tallied eight and seven points each while Gretchel Soltones and Faith Nisperos added six points apiece.
“Siyempre gusto po talaga namin manalo, ayaw lang namin masayang yung pagod ng coaches and players kaya talagang pinusuan namin yung game,” said Lacsina.
Meanwhile, Eya Laure and Kat Tolentino stood out for Choco Mucho with 16 and 15 markers respectively while Madayag, Rondina-Rosales, and Encarnacion scored eight points each.
Akari improved to a 3-3 slate while the Flying Titans suffered back-to-back losses to also drop to a 3-3 record.
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