‘Family’ effort gives Akari sweet first win in 2023
It took the whole family to bring home the sweet taste of victory.
Akari delivered an inspiring team effort in outlasting Army Black Mamba in an energy-sapping four-setter to barge into the win column of the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Eager to end a three-game skid, the Chargers proved to be the steadier team in the 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19 victory in a match that lasted all of 138 minutes.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat led the ladies in white with a game-high 23 points punctuated by the match-clinching ace she served along with 20 kills and two blocks.
But what’s different today was that it was not a one-woman show. Each and every offensive player inserted by coach Jorge de Brito contributed at least a point in this game.
Surprise starter Chiara Permentilla sure made doubters eat their words with a scintillating 13-point, eight-dig, 10-excellent reception performance even as youngster Ezra Madrigal put on a wall in front of the Lady Troopers’ side with a career-best 10 points highlighted by three blocks.
Fellow starters Janine Marciano and Krich Macaslang also joined the fray with seven and six points, respectively, providing the tertiary offensive boosts the Chargers were sorely lacking in their first three matches.
Reserves Eli Soyud and Erika Raagas injected firepower in crucial times, combining for eight markers, while setters Mich Cobb and Jaja Maraguinot also chipped in a point apiece.
It was a total team effort reminiscent of their victories over Choco Mucho and F2 Logistics last year, with the rest of the cast providing ample support to their main scorer.
Honey Royse Tubino relentlessly tried to carry the flag for Army Black Mamba, but her 20 points were for naught as she and her teammates committed costly blunders late in the fourth set.
