ELI Soyud kept it cool and calm when Akari's season was on the line.
With the Chargers hanging on its sixth match point in a tense fifth set, they turned to their 30-year-old veteran at the service line and delivered a game-winning ace under immense pressure to seal a hard-earned win over Choco Mucho in the play-ins of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
READ: Akari survives Choco Mucho in marathon to advance to next phase
For Soyud, it all came down to shutting out the noise, both inside and outside.
“‘Yung iniisip ko po nu’n, ipasok lang,” she said.
“Marami pang mangyayari eh kapag pinasok ko ‘yun. Wala na akong inisip kundi ipasok, wala nang iba,” she said.
Amid a roaring pro-Choco Mucho crowd at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, keeping their composure proved just as crucial as their execution in crunch time.
“‘Yung pagiging kalmado po talaga kasi kapag kalmado rin ‘yung lahat, mas makakapag-isip pa,” Soyud said, citing how she needed every split second to ease her mind before letting her game-winner fly.
That poise defined Akari in the clutch, especially after surviving multiple swings of momentum against a Flying Titans side that refused to go away.
Test of nerves
Ivy Lacsina, who powered Akari with a massive 30-point outing in the do-or-die match, echoed the same approach in her career game with the stakes at their highest.
“Kailangan po talaga kahit na nararamdaman po namin yung init ng game, kailangan piliin po namin maging kalimado kasi baka du’n po kami mas mag-error,” she said.
“Hindi pwede po kanina na may mataranta sa amin kasi madadala po yung buong team.”
It was a test of nerves as much as skill, and one Akari had to pass to keep its semifinals dream alive.
After all, this was a team that clawed its way back from an 0-3 start and, at this point, will fight tooth-and-nail to not let its campaign go to waste.
“Ayoko naman po mabaliwala po yung lahat. Kaya talagang sabi ko this conference, kailangan mas mag-grow ako. Hindi lang naman po para sa akin, pero para sa team na rin,” Lacsina added.
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