Akari Chargers celebrate after booting out Petro Gazz Angels to reach the PVL on Tour quarterfinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Akari knocked out Petro Gazz, 32-30, 25-22, 25-19, to move on to the PVL on Tour quarterfinals on Tuesday at Philsports Arena
The Chargers turned to the troika of Ivy Lacsina, Eli Soyud, and Grethcel Soltones while also drawing a major boost from first-time starting setter Bea Bonafe.
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Bonafe stepped up in the absence of the injured Kamille Cal, delivering 14 excellent sets.
Lacsina delivered 16 points off 12 kills, three blocks, and an ace, crediting their good showing to Bonafe, whom the team signed during the offseason after being seldom used by her previous club, Creamline.
“For me, it was really about the trust. When the game got close, I really felt the coaches’ trust in me and especially in Bea,” Lacsina said in Filipino. “That first set was really all about Bea. She was incredible in the way she talked to us and tried her best to calm the game down. That’s why we said, today’s game was for Bea.”
Soyud drilled 14 kills to finish with 15 points. Soltones had 13 points, while middle blockers Ezra Madrigal and Ced Domingo had nine and seven points, respectively.
Chenie Tagaod also shone as she scored four straight points, highlighted by three consecutive aces for match point, 24-19, before Soltones sealed their entry to the quarterfinal.
“Actually, within the team, there was a bit of a challenge with some of our injured players. But I’m really happy with how things turned out. We were expecting a tough match, maybe even five sets. We didn’t expect a sweep like this. I’m also thankful to Petro Gazz because through them, we saw Bea’s potential, how she can lead the team and run the plays,” said Akari coach Tina Salak. “So aside from the win, as a coach, that was one of the biggest things I wanted to see from her. That’s why this feels like a double win for me.”
Akari takes on Cignal, which finished the pool stage with a 4-1 record, on Thursday at the same venue in Pasig City.
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The HD Spikers swept the Chargers, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23, on opening day of the preseason in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Akari blew a 24-22 set point advantage in the first set and was dragged to six deuces before Lacsina nailed the finishing touches to draw the first blood.
In the second set, Madrigal and Cams Victoria helped the Chargers pull away with a 24-18 lead before the Angels scored four straight points, capped by back-to-back blocks from Nicole Tiamzon and Jonah Sabete to cut it down to two. Soltones made the right adjustment with an off-the-block hit to take a commanding two-set lead.
Petro Gazz, the All-Filipino Conference champion, missed the preseason playoffs, losing four of its six games without Alas Pilipinas players Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips.
The Angels also parted ways with champion coach Koji Tsuzurabara, who is already back home in Japan, in the middle of the On Tour.
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Myla Pablo carried Petro Gazz with 15 points and eight excellent receptions, while Tiamzon added 12 points.
