Akari cracks the PVL Reinforced Conference podium at PLDT's expense. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) — Down two sets to one and trailing massively in the fourth frame, Akari found a way to come back and escape PLDT to clinch the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference bronze on Sunday afternoon at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Chargers eked out a 15-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18 victory in the bronze medal match to crack the podium of the import-laced tilt, finishing the year 2025 on a high note.
Eli Soyud turned a broken play into the winning point as she found the kill on Anastasiia Bavykina's hands, after the High Speed Hitters' import could not keep the ball alive.
Before that, it was a back-and-forth battle, as Annie Mitchem of Akari and Savi Davison of PLDT kept their respective teams alive with their fierce attacks. But Ced Domingo was there, successfully finding the service ace that propelled Akari to match point in that nail-biter, 19-18, just as Soyud nailed the game-clinching kill.
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After falling to a 15-4 hole in Set 4, the Chargers decisively pushed their way back, tying at 21-all and stealing the frame eventually at 26-24 to force a decider.
Mitchem acknowledged that she thought their bronze medal dreams were over during that period, but was glad to see her teammates fight.
"In the fourth set, I thought it was over. I kind of was just preparing to just like finish. And then all of a sudden, we were winning. I don't even think we expected that. It was like a shock for even ourselves," the American spiker said.
"In that match, everybody doubted even in the fourth set… even ourselves, we doubted ourselves sa fourth set na ‘yun. We didn’t realize na holding on together is the best thing we can possibly do to win this bronze medal," coach Tina Salak admitted.
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Mitchem took much of the scoring load for Akari with 36 points on 34 attacks, one block, and an ace to go with 12 excellent receptions, while Grethcel Soltones supplemented that superb showing with a huge triple-double performance of her own, tallying 14 markers, 10 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions.
Playmaker Mars Alba pulled the strings well with 22 excellent sets, while libero Justine Jazareno helped stop the PLDT attacks with 23 excellent digs.
On the other hand, PLDT, after winning back-to-back PVL titles in the 2025 On Tour and 2025 Invitational, sees its 2025 wrap up on a losing note after missing out on a podium result.
The duo of Davison and reinforcement Anastasiia Bavykina accounted for a total of 58 points, but proved to be not enough as the High Speed Hitters fell short.
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