Akari captured the PVL Reinforced Conference bronze medal after pulling off a come-from-behind 15-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18 win over PLDT in a five-set thriller on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Chargers, coming off a five-set heartbreak in the semifinal to the Petro Gazz Angels, never gave up on a podium finish even after trailing by two sets and 4-15 in the fourth to force a decider, which went toe-to-toe.
After five deuces in the fifth set, Ced Domingo drilled a crucial ace for the match point, followed by a wild sequence with Eli Soyud, who ended up with the game-winning push that landed on PLDT’s floor, completing the comeback after a two-hour and 38-minute duel. Annie Mitchem saved the best for last for Akari with 36 points, while Grethcel Soltones also rose to the occasion with 14 points, 13 excellent receptions, and 10 digs.
‘In the fourth set, I thought it was over. I kind of was just preparing to just like finish. And then all of a sudden, we were winning. I don’t even think we expected that. It was like a shock for even us,’ said Mitchem. ‘And then in the fifth set, I think we started to fight more. And want to actually show what we can do and win.’
Akari also drew solid contributions from middle blockers Domingo and Fifi Sharma, who had nine and eight points, respectively. Mars Alba paced the team with 22 excellent sets, while Justine Jazareno tallied 23 digs.
The Chargers earned their third straight podium finish despite failing to sustain their runner-up finish last year, adding their second bronze after the previous All-Filipino Conference.
‘With that match, everybody doubted us, even ourselves, we doubted ourselves in the fourth set. We didn’t realize that holding on together is the best thing we can possibly do to win this bronze medal,’ said Akari coach Tina Salak.
Akari was the eighth seed in the elimination round, but it knocked out the No.1 team Farm Fresh in the quarterfinals.
PLDT botched its chance of winning bronze after reaching match point in the fourth, 24-22.
Akari pounced on the opportunity with Sharma nailing back-to-back blocks on Anastasiia Bavykina, Soltones scoring a point to put Akari ahead, and Mitchem nailing the set-clinching kill to force a fifth set.
Savi Davison gave her all with 30 points in a losing effort. Bavykina had 28 points, while Dell Palomata added 11 only for PLDT, which settled for fourth place, following a semifinal loss to ZUS Coffee.