ANTIPOLO, Philippines – In arguably the most nail-biting match yet in the 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the Akari Chargers rose from the dead to shock the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the semifinal opener, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14, on Saturday, March 29.
In front of 5,915 rocking fans at the jampacked Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Eli Soyud had the game of her life with a career-high 34 points built on 27 attacks and 7 big blocks as Akari battled from down 14-11 in the decider, courtesy of a match-point-clinching Sisi Rondina hit off the overreceive.
Regine Arocha, however, sparked an unlikely spiral for the Flying Titans with a service error, 14-12, followed by a Faith Nisperos cross, 14-13, and a Mich Cobb block on Rondina, 14-all.
Rondina’s woes did not stop there with her next attack sailing out as she slapped the stanchion in frustration for Akari match point, 15-14, before Nisperos again took her turn under the spotlight with a clean cross for the shocking match-winner, 16-14.
“We had crucial points. Also the crowd is getting bigger but the players keep on talking, [having] conversations and we also made sure what we needed to do and we made it. It’s a very great effort,” said Akari head coach Taka Minowa after the exhausting affair.
Soyud made PVL history in the win as her career-high mark is the sixth highest scoring individual effort by a local player in league history as Akari snapped Choco Mucho’s lengthy nine-game winning streak.
Ced Domingo backstopped the win with 14 points off 10 attacks, 3 blocks, and 1 ace, while Justine Jazareno — an Alas Pilipinas tryout invitee like Soyud — scrapped her way to 25 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Rondina also nearly breached the 30-point plateau in the heartbreaking loss with 29 points as Choco Mucho sinks to the brink of elimination, while Akari gains a crucial leg up in the round-robin semis battle.
Thang Ponce likewise did her thing on defense over at the losing end with 31 excellent receptions and 18 digs as Royse Tubino scored 14 for the shorthanded Flying Titans, who were missing stars Kat Tolentino and Dindin Manabat. The Chargers, meanwhile, missed the services of Alas standout Fifi Sharma. – Rappler.com