Chargers stymie Cool Smashers for fourth straight win
Games Saturday
(FilOil Arena)
4 p.m. - PLDT vs Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. - Capital1 vs Cignal
MANILA, Philippines — Akari denied Creamline an outright qualifying round entry while bolstering its own with a 25-21, 26-24, 17-25, 25-21 victory Thursday in the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
It was the fourth triumph in seven outings for the Chargers, who kept alive their hopes of gatecrashing into the four-team crossover qualifying round, where the two winners will barge straight to the semis.
Ivy Lacsina spewed 20 points, including 18 on kills, while Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones scattered 15 and 14 hits, respectively, but it was their defense that spelled the biggest difference.
“Our communication worked, our blocks and defense too,” said Akari libero and captain Justine Jazareno, an Alas Pilipinas stalwart who had a match-best 22 digs.
The Chargers also denied the Cool Smashers an automatic qualifying round seat, ended the latter’s five-match streak and sent them to their second defeat in seven outings.
Akari would need to hurdle its last two assignments versus Galeries Tower Tuesday and Farm Fresh on March 21.
And Jazareno thinks they still have to improve on certain things.
“I think we have to work on the connection of the setters and the middle blockers and spikers for our next games,” she said.
Despite the defeat, the Rebisco franchise could still claim that coveted seat alongside early entrant PLDT (6-1) if it could pull off at least a win against either Farm Fresh Tuesday or Cignal on March 21.
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