Akari reignited its quarterfinal hopes in emphatic fashion, dismantling sister team Nxled, 25-13, 25-17, 25-22, in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, November 13.

Displaying renewed focus and urgency after a tough four-set loss to Cignal, the Chargers executed flawlessly from start to finish, dictating the tempo with sharp serves, crisp ball movement, and a disciplined defensive wall. The straight-set victory — finished in just over an hour — not only restored Akari’s rhythm but also lifted its record to 4-3, moving into fifth place with 12 points.

Mars Alba leads balanced Akari offense

Playmaker Mars Alba ran Akari’s offense with poise and precision, tallying 21 excellent sets while adding three points of her own. Her calm leadership kept the Chargers in sync all game long, ensuring every hitter contributed.

“Naglaro lang lahat ng maayos kaya maganda ang performance ng bawat isa,” Alba said. “Yung sa pag-set naman, it’s all about reflex — automatic na ’yun.”

Import Annie Mitchem powered the attack with 20 points, while Grethcel Soltones added 12. Ced Domingo, Eli Soyud, and Camille Victoria chipped in eight, seven, and five, respectively, rounding out a well-balanced scoring effort.

Akari dominated every major statistical category — 48-26 in attacks, 3-0 in blocks, and 8-5 in aces — while capitalizing on Nxled’s 21 unforced errors.

Chargers gain ground in tight playoff race

Nxled’s Paola Martinez and Chiara Permentilla each finished with 10 points, but the rest of the Chameleons struggled to keep pace. Despite a brief third-set rally that cut the deficit to 18-20, Nxled failed to sustain momentum as Akari slammed the door shut to complete the sweep.

The win was crucial for the Chargers, who are battling for one of the remaining quarterfinal slots. With ZUS Coffee, PLDT, and Farm Fresh already through, the remaining berths are being contested by Akari, Cignal, Capital1, Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, and Choco Mucho.

Akari will next face Choco Mucho — a pivotal matchup that could determine its playoff fate. A win would put the Chargers in prime position to advance, especially if Cignal falters against Creamline.

For head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and his squad, the focus remains on consistency and composure — the same qualities that fueled their dominant night against Nxled.