Dindin lethal in Akari’s disposal of Capital1

MANILA, Philippines — There was a reason why Akari took Dindin Santiago-Manabat as its first, and arguably the biggest, star recruit when it ventured into the Premier Volleyball League a year ago.

Yesterday was a display of Manabat as a lethal weapon, saving the day for the Chargers in a 25-17, 25-14, 25-20 victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers at the PhilSports Arena that kept them in the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinal hunt.

The towering, long-limbed 30-year-old spiker unloaded a 25-point effort she laced with 20 booming kills, three rock solid blocks and two torpedo-like service aces as Akari claimed its fourth win against five losses and stayed in the tight semis race.

It was also Manabat who turned things around when Capital1 repeatedly and gallantly fought back and made it close at the start of every set.

In fact, when the Solar Spikers erased an 8-12 deficit and turned it into a 13-12 edge in the third set, Manabat came through with a spike that knotted it and somehow sparked the decisive run that sealed the deal.

Asked about her heroics, Manabat said there was really no secret except to play relaxed.

“Enjoy lang every point,” she said.

Grethcel Soltones, another of Akari’s bevy of stars, took care of most of the dirty work as she chipped in nine hits while anchoring the team’s floor defense with team-highs 14 digs and nine receptions.

Interestingly, Soltones’s all-around brilliance came at the expense of her former mentor, Capital1’s Roger Gorayeb.

While it was a straight-setter, the Solar Spikers valiantly fought back specifically in the third set when they unleashed seldom-used Janica Lana, who poured in most of her eight-point effort in that set including in a stretch when they seized a 13-12 advantage.

It didn’t last long though as Manabat came to the Chargers’ rescue.

Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos helped with eight hits apiece as Akari sent Capital1 tumbling to 1-8.

Akari coach Raffy Mosuela said their next focus is solving the Chery Tiggo puzzle.

“Training namin from the start, ang focus namin Chery Tiggo. Of course, sa Capital1 nagkaroon din kami ng game plan,” he said.

They play Chery Tiggo next week in Sta. Rosa, Laguna before closing out its elimination round schedule April 27 versus Strong Group Athletics at the PhilSports Arena.