The Akari Chargers. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — No. 8 Akari will be advancing to the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference semifinals.
This, as the Chargers completed an upset of top seed Farm Fresh, 28-26, 30-28, 25-21, in the knockout quarterfinals on Monday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Setting aside the 2025 On Tour, Akari is now in three straight semifinals, starting from last year's Reinforced Conference, when it won the silver medal.
They will be facing the winner of Creamline-Petro Gazz matchup later in the day.
"Lahat 'to, team effort. Lahat, everything. From technical to small information to feedbacks, lahat 'to—everything goes doon sa training namin. In-all out na namin, and we made sure na hindi 'yon ang last training for Akari," said Coach Tina Salak after the game.
The first two sets were close ones, but the Salak-supervised squad managed to escape every time. As the Foxies saved three set points in Set 1 since the 24-23 mark, Annie Mitchem and Mars Alba found the off-the-block kill and service ace that installed a 1-0 lead.
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In the succeeding frame, as Farm Fresh reached set point, 28-27, Mitchem worked wonders for Akari in the endgame—she fired the back-to-back kills to overtake Farm Fresh, and Fifi Sharma nailed the frame-clinching kill block on Ces Molina that gave their side the 2-0 advantage.
The Chargers then found the 5-2 finishing kick in Set 3 from a narrow 20-19 Akari lead, capped by Mitchem's kill that completed the stunner.
"Every ounce of energy and strength talaga ay ibubuhos dito sa game na 'to, kasi it's all or nothing. 'Yun 'yung naging mindset ko at this game," said libero Justine Jazareno, who led the stoppage of Farm Fresh attacks, earning Player of the Game nod.
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She listed 21 excellent digs and 55 percent digging efficiency, and had 10 excellent receptions on 71 percent receiving efficiency.
Mitchem concluded with a double-double of 25 points and 14 excellent receptions, while Eli Soyud (10 points), Grethcel Soltones (10 points), Sharma (9 points), and Ced Domingo (7 points) were there as supporting cast.
Steering that offense was playmaker Mars Alba, who had 19 excellent sets.
On the other hand, Eli Rousseaux, despite tallying 25 points to match Mitchem's output, lacked the Filipino support. Molina was already the closest at eight points, while Alohi Robins-Hardy chipped in seven points as a setter, to go with 14 excellent sets.
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