Akari finally ends slump in PVL On Tour with five-set escape vs. ZUS
The Chargers improved to 1-2 after opening the preseason contest with back-to-back losses to Cignal and Creamline. The Thunderbelles, meanwhile, had a tough way to open their campaign as they fell to 0-1.
Grethcel Soltones led the way for the hungry Akari, flirting with a triple-double of 23 points, 11 digs, and nine receptions as they turned back ZUS to barge into the win column.
The veteran outside spiker unloaded a strong kill that saw Akari taking a slim 8-7 lead before another seasoned wing spiker in Eli Soyud came alive to further extend the lead.
The opposite spiker converted three straight points, including a pair of attacks and a rejection on Chinnie Arroyo, before Soltones made something out of an out-of-system setup from Ezra Madrigal to make it a 12-9 lead.
But ZUS fought back thanks to middle blocker Maika Ortiz, whose two consecutive blocks powered a 3-0 run for a 12-all deadlock. Akari was the first to clinch the match point, but an attack error from Chenie Tagaod saw the game knotted at 15-all once more.
Ced Domingo then completed a running play before Kate Santiago went wide on their combination play as Akari gutted out the hard-fought victory.
In the first game, Chery Tiggo opened its On Tour debut in style after overcoming a slow start to pull off a 20-25, 25-23, 25-12, 25-12 victory over the struggling Capital1.
Cess Robles led with 17 points and nine digs while rookies Baby Jyne Soreño and Renee Peñafiel impressed with 15 and 11 markers apiece as they kept the Solar Spikers winless at 0-3.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
PLDT outlasts Creamline to book first-ever finals appearance in PVL On Tour
PLDT is heading to the championship stage for the first time ever. Savi Davison rained down attacks on Creamline in the deciding set to steer PLDT to a 27-25, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-10 win in the 2025 PVL On Tour knockout semifinals on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Filipina-Canadian outside spiker poured eight points in the fifth frame as the High Speed Hitters turned back the multi-titled Cool Smashers, booking their spot in the championship round against Chery Tiggo. The win also allowed PLDT to extend its unbeaten run to seven games after going undefeated in group stage with a 5-0 card and sweeping ZUS Coffee in the quarterfinals. Davison, who missed the group stage action after staying in Canada for a while, starred in the final frame, which she opened with back-to-back kills from the left wing before another kill from her sent PLDT to a momentum-setting 3-1 start. But Creamline showed poise behind the clutch shots from veteran spiker Jema Galanza, who converted three points to fuel a 4-2 rampage and help Creamline pull within one point, 9-10. But the Cool Smashers couldn't halt Davison as the high-flying spiker unleashed three consecutive attacks, including a sharp cut shot that gave PLDT a 13-9 lead. They then clinched the match point off a costly attack error from Alyssa Valdez for a 14-9 advantage. Michele Gumabao saved one point for Creamline on an opposite kill, but Davison put the punctuation by avoiding the two-woman block of Sheena Toring and Gumabao to steer PLDT to its first-ever finals appearance. PLDT came close to a finals stint in 2024 when it tangled with Akari in the semifinals of the Reinforced Conference. But controversy marred the match following a non-call late in the fifth set, which eventually allowed the Chargers to take the victory and march to the finals against Creamline. —JMB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
PLDT ousts ZUS Coffee, advances to PVL On Tour semis
PVL On Tour. August 7, 2025. Savi Davison of the PLDT High Speed Hitters against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles. (Photo: PVL) PLDT dispatched ZUS Coffee, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19, in the PVL On Tour quarterfinals on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig to advance to the semifinals. Savi Davison led the High Speed Hitters with 28 points from 25 attacks, to go with 10 excellent receptions as PLDT remained perfect in the tournament. Jovelyn Prado, meanwhile, added 10 points. AC Miner had 13 points, while Chinnie Arroyo had 10 points for the Thunderbelles. PLDT will now wait for the winner of the quarterfinals match between Creamline and Farm Fresh for their semis matchup. Earlier, Cignal also booked a spot in the tournament's semifinals. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
Cignal sweeps Akari for PVL On Tour semis slot
PVL On Tour. August 7, 2025. Erika Santos of the Cignal HD Spikers against the Akari Chargers. (Photo: PVL) The Cignal HD Spikers swept the Akari Chargers in the quarterfinals, 25-20, 25-11, 28-26, to book a slot in the semifinals of the PVL On Tour on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. Erika Santos registered 24 points from 22 attacks, including the game-winner, to lead the HD Spikers. Roselyn Doria-Aquino, meanwhile, had 10 points. 'As for the semis, we don't pick our opponents,' Santos said. 'Lahat pantay-pantay ang respeto namin. Back to zero ulit. Pag-aaralan lang namin yung lessons sa mga previous games namin.' Eli Soyud, meanwhile, led the Chargers with 13 points, while Ced Domingo had 11 points. The semifinals of the PVL On Tour will start on August 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
