Akari star spiker Ivy Lacsina. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Akari passed ZUS Coffee's test on Thursday, 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, for its second win in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
With Akari on the verge of taking the match after a Grethcel Soltones down-the-line kill in Set 4, 23-20, debuting rookie Thea Gagate tried to keep the Thunderbelles alive after consecutive hits as Shai Troncoso followed through with a big service ace to tie the match at 23-apiece.
And then, the Chargers have finally put their San Juan rivals to sleep courtesy of Faith Nisperos and Ivy Lacsina's sharp kills, 25-23.
But before that, the Thunderbelles clinched the third frame after pulling away, uncorking an 8-2 run from the 9-7 mark to get on board.
Lacsina shone for the Chargers, dropping 24 points on 22 attacks, one ace and a block, while Eli Soyud added 15 points built mostly on hits.
"'Yung ZUS Coffee po talaga, parang ang hirap po nila kalaban 'pag sa depensahan talaga. Pero, siguro po, doon po pumasok 'yung teamwork po naman and 'yung puso po namin sa laro kanina," Lacsina said during the postgame press conference.
Now without prolific import Oly Okaro, the Chargers are bracing for bigger challenges in the all-Pinoy contest.
"'Yung last conference po maganda pong experience po 'yun sa 'min. At the same time, 'yung trinabaho po namin is kung papaano pa po kami magiging better kumpara sa last conference para habang tuloy-tuloy po 'yung panalo po namin, natututo pa rin po kami," Lacsina said.
Meanwhile, Gagate, in her first game in the PVL, led the ZUS Coffee offense with a 13-point output, while Kate Santiago and Michelle Gamit had 12 points each.
Akari, now holding a 2-0 slate, will be facing All-Filipino powerhouse Creamline next.
Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee is at 0-1, slated to take on Nxled on Tuesday.