AKARI spoiled Galeries Tower’s playoff debut with a 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11 win in Game One of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
The sixth-seeded Chargers sent the upset-conscious Highrisers crashing back down from the highs of their qualifying-round shocker over Cignal.
Down two sets to one, the Chargers leaned on Eli Soyud’s veteran composure to complete the five-set comeback with 19 points built on 18 attacks and one ace.
Ivy Lacsina matched her career-best 28-point output along with 12 receptions from last year's All-Filipino Conference when she was still with Nxled.
In only her second match back from a brief injury layoff, Grethcel Soltones landed a triple-double of 10 points, 14 digs and 17 receptions.
Soyud & Co. shared how the team challenged their inner Fighting Maroons and rallied with an 'Atin 'To' battlecry to overturn an early set deficit.
"Pinaghugutan lang namin yung isa’t isa. Sabi nga ni Ivy (Lacsina) kapag nasa loob at naghuhuddle kami, ang sinasabi namin, 'Atin 'to, atin 'to, ipapanalo natin 'to' para hindi na tayo mahirapan kasi pinaghirapan natin to sa training," said Soyud.
"Sobrang grabe yung training namin (lalo na for the quarterfinals) pero 'yun, nagbunga naman today."
And so, Akari will need just one more win to reach the PVL semifinals for the second straight conference.
Highrisers sent crashing
Galeries Tower's young scoring trifecta in rookie Jewel Encarnacion (18 points), France Ronquillo (17 points) and Ysa Jimenez (13 points) delivered in their first-ever playoff outing and was even a set away from a debut win.
Crucial playmaking errors from veteran setter Fhen Emnas proved costly in the endgame, paving a clear path for the Chargers to draw first blood.
A chance to keep their Cinderella run awaits come Game 2 on Thursday, 4 p.m., still at the Philsports Arena.
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