PVL: Akari survives PLDT in dramatic semis finish, seals breakthrough finals berth

For the first time in history, Akari will be marching on to the championship round after gutting out a 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 26-24, 17-15 win against PLDT in a dramatic semifinals clash of the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday.

The Chargers also stretched their unbeaten run, claiming their 10th straight victory all the way to the finals where they could face either multi-titled Creamline or powerhouse Cignal.

Import Oly Okaro led the way for Akari, tallying 39 points off 35 attacks and four blocks as they survived a massive fight brought in by the High Speed Hitters. 

The Chargers found themselves in a quandary when PLDT cruised to a 2-1 set lead with Lena Samoilenko powering the High Speed Hitters in their crucial third set victory. 

However, Akari showed its poise in the fourth after Okaro nailed back-to-back kills from the right wing while Ivy Lacsina buried a down-the-line hit to give them the set point at 24-23. 

Fiola Ceballos would force a deadlock, but Okaro caught the endline and Lacsina served up an ace to drag PLDT to a deciding fifth set. 

PLDT was in a slightly comfortable position in the fifth, taking the match point at 14-13 before they called for a net touch challenge amid a long rally. It was, however, denied by the officials, giving Akari the point that saw another knotted scoreline at 14-all. 

Ceballos' swipe on the ball allowed PLDT to retake the lead, but Grethcel Soltones responded with two consecutive open attacks.  Samoilenko's back row hammer then went straight to the net as Akari took the hard-fought win. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News