Amazing Chargers sustain run, break Cool Smashers’ streak

Games Saturday
4 p.m. – PLDT vs. Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs. Cignal

Showing no fear, Akari pulled off one of the most stirring victories in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, doing what only the Chargers themselves may have believed possible — snapping Creamline’s seemingly untouchable run with a gritty four-set triumph, 25–21, 28–26, 17–25, 25–21, Thursday.

With poise and determination, the Chargers rose to the challenge, weathering Creamline’s fightback in Set 4 and seizing the decisive moments to secure the kind of victory that echoed across the conference and inside the FilOil Playtime Centre.

In a highly anticipated showdown between two streaking teams, Akari walked away with its momentum fully intact. The Chargers not only protected their winning run but also boosted their confidence and strengthened their push for a qualifying round berth in the process.

While Ivy Lacsina sustained her brilliance throughout the match and Eli Soyud caught fire with a flurry of power hits in the final two sets, it was libero Justine Jazareno who stood out with a floor defense display that bordered on the extraordinary.

Time and again, Jazareno dove for balls many defenders would have allowed to drop, keeping rallies alive and turning desperate saves into scoring opportunities for the Chargers.

The Alas Pilipinas standout finished with 22 excellent digs at 59% efficiency, but she brushed aside praise for her performance when asked about her knack for keeping powerful attacks in play.

“Tina-trabaho ‘yun,” she said simply.

It was more than just hard work, however. Jazareno’s talent, skill and refined technique continue to set her apart from the league’s top defenders. She also pointed to the team’s collective effort behind Akari’s defensive success.

“It’s our communication. It’s all about our blocking, defense and service, which we polish during training,” she said.

Jazareno punctuated her day with a spectacular left-hand dig that set up Grethcel Soltones for a two-handed dump on the second ball, stretching Akari’s lead to its biggest at 20-11 in the fourth set.

Creamline, however, mounted its trademark rally, pulling within 21-24 behind Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza. But the Chargers quickly snuffed out any hopes of a comeback, turning to an unlikely closer in the clutch.

With Lacsina and Soyud slowed down late by Creamline’s net defense, setter Mars Alba went to Chenie Tagaod, who calmly unleashed a decisive blast to end the two-hour, five-minute encounter.

The victory stretched Akari’s winning streak to four games after the team stumbled with three straight losses to begin the tournament.

Just as significant was the opponent it defeated.

The Chargers halted Creamline’s five-game surge, stopping the Cool Smashers just as they appeared to be building another dominant run in the season-ending conference. Creamline had earlier dropped its opening game in straight sets to PLDT but quickly recovered with five consecutive wins before running into a resurgent Akari squad.

With the win, Akari climbed to solo fourth place in the standings at 4-3 — a remarkable turnaround for a team that once sat at the bottom of the leaderboard during the early stages of the conference.

Creamline, which slipped to 5-2, attempted to recreate its dramatic reverse sweep over Cignal during the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals after gaining momentum in Set 3. However, Akari quickly shut down any hopes of another Cool Smashers comeback. The Chargers regained their composure in the fourth set and showed resilience in the crucial moments to secure the upset.

The victory also carried historical significance for Akari.

It marked only the Chargers’ second win over Creamline. Their first came during last year’s Reinforced Conference, when Akari escaped with a thrilling five-set triumph that snapped a nine-game losing streak against the multi-titled Cool Smashers.

This latest win, however, may prove even more meaningful — not just as an upset, but as a powerful sign that Akari’s rise in the league is very real.

Lacsina powered Akari with 20 points, while Soyud added 15, including four consecutive hits that fueled the Chargers’ early surge to a 7-3 lead in the fourth set. Soltones also delivered 14 points, knocking down crucial shots in the early stages while providing the stability and composure that helped keep the Chargers in control.

Akari also drew key contributions from its middle blockers, with Fifi Sharma and Ced Domingo chipping in seven points each while effectively neutralizing Creamline’s presence in the middle.

Galanza led Creamline with 16 points, highlighted by a string of power hits that briefly ignited hopes of a late comeback. Tots Carlos added 10 and Pangs Panaga finished with nine, while Bernadette Pons was limited to eight points as she struggled to break through Akari’s defense.

Alyssa Valdez contributed six points in a two-set stint, while Michele Gumabao and Bea de Leon scored five points each.