Akari once again proved its championship mettle, surviving a tenacious Galeries Tower squad in a thrilling five-set battle, 19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-12, to punch its ticket to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference semifinals late Thursday night, March 20, at the Philsports Arena.

It was a match filled with momentum shifts, as the Chargers leaned on their experience and composure to outlast the youthful Highrisers, who pushed them to the brink before falling short in the crucial closing moments.

Decisive fifth set battle

Akari gained early control in the fifth set, taking advantage of Galeries Tower’s miscues to build a 6-3 lead. Grethcel Soltones capped a long rally with a powerful kill, extending the advantage to 9-4.

However, Jewel Encarnacion carried the Highrisers back into contention, engineering a five-point run to tie the score at 9-all. Galeries Tower kept pace until a costly overpass by Andrea Marzan handed Akari a 12-11 edge, a lead they would not relinquish.

Soltones struck back with another off-the-block kill, followed by a crucial Encarnacion misfire, pushing Akari to match point. Faith Nisperos then sealed the win with a decisive blast off the blockers, sending the Chargers to the semifinals alongside Choco Mucho.

Soyud, Soltones, and Nisperos step up

Eli Soyud led Akari’s offense with 20 points, including 18 attacks, earning the Best Player of the Game honors.

“Galeries Tower didn’t make it easy. Every point was a struggle, but we found a way,” said Soyud.

Nisperos delivered a well-rounded performance with 15 points and 13 digs, while Soltones chipped in 13 markers. Middle blocker Ced Domingo added seven points, stepping up in crucial stretches to counter Galeries Tower’s relentless attacks.

Despite an off night, Ivy Lacsina still contributed eight points, while setter Michelle Cobb played a vital role in orchestrating the Chargers’ offense.

Encarnacion shines in Highrisers’ valiant stand

Galeries Tower showed its potential once again, with Encarnacion leading the charge with a career-high 21 points. France Ronquillo added 16 markers, while middle blocker Roselle Baliton and Ysa Jimenez chipped in 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Despite their stellar efforts, the Highrisers faltered in the closing moments, mirroring their struggles in past five-set matches. They had earlier stunned Cignal HD in the quarterfinals but couldn’t replicate the feat against the more experienced Akari squad.

A promising future for Galeries Tower

While Galeries Tower fell short, their fearless performance signaled a bright future. The team’s energy and talent were evident, but their inexperience in crunch time proved costly.

For Akari, the victory reaffirmed its resilience and ability to thrive in high-pressure moments. With another hard-fought win under their belt, the Chargers march into the semifinals battle-tested and ready to take on the league’s elite.