Photo: PVL
The Akari Chargers secured the bronze medal in the PVL Reinforced Conference after outlasting the PLDT High Speed Hitters in a dramatic 15-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18 victory in the PVL Reinforced Conference Battle-for-Third at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, yesterday.
The match lasted two hours and 24 minutes and delivered a level of intensity more commonly seen in championship finals.
The Chargers leaned heavily on the stellar performance of import Annie Mitchem, who finished with 36 points and 12 excellent receptions. Mitchem provided steady scoring throughout the match and kept Akari alive during multiple momentum swings. She played a central role in Akari’s recovery from a 10 point deficit in the fourth set that threatened to end the contest early.
Ced Domingo and Eli Soyud delivered key plays in the fifth set. After Akari survived a PLDT bronze medal match point following a service error from Jovie Prado, Domingo’s serve forced a misreception that gave the Chargers an 19-18 advantage. In the final sequence, Soyud pushed the ball over the net for the decisive point that secured the victory.
Grethcel Soltones provided 14 points along with 10 digs and 13 receptions. Domingo scored nine points while Fifi Sharma and Soyud contributed eight and six points respectively. Setter Mars Alba also delivered a strong performance with 22 excellent sets while libero Justine Jazareno anchored the defense with 23 excellent digs.
Akari rallied from a difficult start after dropping the opening set in lopsided fashion. The Chargers took the second frame, faltered in the third and fell behind significantly in the fourth before orchestrating one of the most improbable comebacks of the season. Sharma posted two crucial blocks on PLDT import Nastya Bavykina to force deuce at 24 all and eventually extend the match to a deciding set.
The fifth set featured twelve deadlocks and five lead changes. Both teams traded points with neither side able to fully seize control until the final moments. PLDT briefly held an 18-17 lead behind back-to-back points from Bavykina before the late errors and Akari’s composure shifted the outcome.
PLDT produced strong individual numbers led by Savi Davison with 30 points, Bavykina with 27 and Dell Palomata with 11. Libero Kath Arado finished with a game high 27 digs. Despite these efforts, the High Speed Hitters could not convert key opportunities and finished with only eight blocks, just one more than Akari.
The bronze medal match delivered the intensity and emotion of a championship contest and will be remembered as a defining moment for Akari, a team that proved its resilience and heart when it mattered most.
