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Akari survives slow start to hand Nxled its 7th straight loss
Shorthanded Akari regained its winning ways to breeze past sister team Nxled, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18, in the ongoing 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, January 23, at the Philsports Arena.
Ivy Lacsina powered the Chargers by posting 17 points built on 14 attacks, two aces, and a block, while Faith Nisperos and Eli Soyud both contributed 15 apiece in the winning cause.
The win propelled Akari to a 4-4 win-loss record despite team captain Michelle Cobb exiting the court after suffering a neck injury during the second set.
PHOTO COURTESY: PVL MEDIA BUREAU
“[Cobb] just went to the hospital. She feels something. That’s why we’re not sure about serious injury or not. But so far, she just went to the hospital and now checking up,” said head coach Taka Minowa during postgame.
In the fourth set, the Chargers got off to a sluggish start again, but the Taka Minowa-led team recovered the advantage as mistakes plagued the Chameleons.
Fifi Sharma’s service ace gave Akari its largest lead at 21-14 as they embarked on a blocking rampage to distance themselves from Nxled having the momentum on their side.
Lacsina and Nisperos closed the game by scoring the final two points to give the squad their fourth conference victory.
Meanwhile, Chiara Permentilla attempted to keep the Chameleons afloat with 20 markers, Lucille Almonte supplied 13 points, and Lycha Ebon finished with 11.
Nxled is still winless in this conference with a 0-7 record and is currently on a 14-game losing streak that dates back to the previous Reinforced Conference.
Akari will aim to secure their fifth win when they battle the Capital1 Solar Spikers on February 1, while Nxled will try to end their losing skid when they face Grand Slam champion Creamline on January 28, both at the Philsports Arena.
