The Akari Chargers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Akari overcame a slow start and the exit of its captain, Michelle Cobb, in its 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 triumph over sister team Nxled in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Cobb was stretchered off the court after an apparent injury at the 5-3 mark of Set 2. The De La Salle University product rolled over after trying to keep the ball alive, hurting her neck in the process.
READ: PVL: Akari captain Mich Cobb stretchered off the court after apparent neck injury
But that didn't stop them as the Chargers kept their composure en route to the four-set victory.
READ: PVL: PLDT leaves no room for doubt with sweep of Akari
Star spiker Ivy Lacsina paved the way, leading the Akari offense with 17 points anchored on 14 attacks, two aces, and a block, while Eli Soyud dropped 15 markers — six of those came from kill blocks. Spiker Faith Nisperos also added 15, while Camille Victoria breached twin-digit scoring, tallying 10.
"Unang-una sa lahat happy kasi 'yun nga po, natalo kami before this game, kaya parang boost din sa amin 'yung pagkapanalo ngayon," said Lacsina during the postgame press conference.
They lost before this game to rivals PLDT High Speed Hitters, opening the year 2025 on a rough note. But this win made them improve to a 4-4 win-loss card while sending the Chameleons to a seventh consecutive loss.
But the Chargers, despite the win, somehow trailed on the defensive side of things as they only listed 38 excellent digs and 20 excellent receptions. In contrast, the Chameleons had 46 excellent digs and 25 excellent receptions.
Akari also lost the attacking department by five, 48 to 53, but was somehow offset by copping 27 points via the Chameleons' errors.
A bright spot for Taka Minowa's wards was the blocking, edging their sisters overwhelmingly — a 16-2 difference.
Meanwhile, Chiara Permentilla's game-high 20-point explosion, which all came from attacks, went down the drain as Nxled remained dead-last at 0-7.
Akari will have a bit of a break as its next game date is on February 1, taking on Capital1 next. Nxled has a harder task in powerhouse Creamline, set on January 28 at the same Pasig venue.