FULLY CHARGED
Four different configurations could have emerged out of the two quarterfinal pairings on one side of the semifinal bracket in the PVL Reinforced Conference.
Of those four, this was probably the last anyone would have thought of. And yet, here we are.
Proving that no favorite is safe and no underdog is ever out of the fight, No. 8 Akari and the fifth-seeded Petro Gazz toppled their respective higher-seeded foes to set a semifinal duel.
The Chargers, who had a roller-coaster ride in the preliminaries, stunned the top-seeded Farm Fresh, 28-26, 30-28, 25-21, to advance to the semifinals on Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Akari was the No. 1 team in last year’s Reinforced, ousting Farm Fresh in the quarterfinals to reach the championship round. The tables were turned in the preliminary round, with the Foxies cornering the top seed and the Chargers dropping to the bottom of the quarterfinal roster.
But somehow, the old order was restored.
“Everyone had the will to win and each player was eager to fight for the semifinals,” Akari’s Eli Soyud told the Inquirer. “That’s why the outcome was so good—because everyone really wanted it.”
The Angels, on the other hand, bounced back from last year’s quarterfinal exit at the hands of the defending champions, ousting Creamline, 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14.
Lindsey Vander Weide suffered a right ankle sprain early in the first set but was able to return in the fourth.
But in between, Myla Pablo stepped up big time, unleashing a game-high 26 points to take away Creamline’s final crown.
Even with two-time MVPs Pablo and Brooke Van Sickle holding the fort, the Angels still needed 2022 Best Import and Finals MVP Vander Weide, who finished with six points in her return during the fourth set.
“We’d already played with Lindsey back in 2022. We knew what adjustments were needed for this game, and everyone helped each other. The coaches also reminded us to focus on every detail,” Pablo told the Inquirer in Filipino.
The veteran outside spiker, who had a limited role this year and even played as an opposite spiker, was eager to win it for Vander Weide.
Total team effort
“Earlier, I just played without pressure, and I knew my team needed me to perform. I wanted to give my best for Lindsey,” said Pablo. “In the first set, I struggled a bit because it had been a while since I had been playing opposite in past games. But I told myself I could do it, just needed a little adjustment.”
Akari had a total team effort to take down Farm Fresh, with Annie Mitchem leading the way with 25 points, all on kills, and recording 14 excellent receptions.
Soyud and Grethcel Soltones added 10 points each, while Fifi Sharma had nine. Setter Mars Alba had 19 excellent sets and libero Justine Jazareno finished with 21 digs and 10 excellent receptions.
“Earlier, we just reminded each other to trust one another and give everything on the court,” Soyud said. “You could see that in the game, everyone gave their all.”
