By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Akari Power Chargers have finally barged into the win column of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 1st All-Filipino Conference with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-22 sweep of the Farm Fresh Foxies at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday night, March 5.
Gretchel Soltones led the way with 16 points on 13-of-25 attacks, two aces and a block, to go along with 10 excellent receptions as the Power Chargers snapped a two-game slide to improve to a 1-2 win-loss slate.
Negrense Christine Joy Soyud also powered through in a starter role with 14 points. Erika Raagas also had 10 points, while Celine Domingo and Mereophe Sharma got nine and eight points, respectively, for Akari.
Despite the absence of Faith Nisperos, the Power Chargers did not need much time to light up, racing to a 25-19 first set before blowing out the Foxies in the second frame, 25-15.
However, the Foxies found their groove in the third set and even took a 20-18 lead before Sharma, Soltones and Michelle Cobb joined forces with the Power Chargers to turn things around.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, credit to the players. Ginawa talaga nila ‘yung game plan namin, kung ano man ‘yung napag-aralan namin sa Farm Fresh, nakita naman ‘yung result,” Foxies head coach Raffy Mosuela said.
Trisha Tubu was the lone Foxies player in double figures with 10 points, while Chinnie Arroyo and Kate Santiago backstopped her with nine and seven points. They dropped to 1-2.
Meanwhile, the Capital1 Solar Energy Power Spikers clinched their inaugural franchise victory by defeating the Strong Group Athletics (SGA), 25-18, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, for a 1-2 record. The SGA dropped to 0-3.
Jorelle Singh made a significant impact for Capital 1 with 13 points, consisting of 12 attacks and one block, while Negrense Patty Jane Orendain contributed nine markers in the win.
“Syempre masaya, kasi alam niyo naman, itong team na ito less than two months pa lang kami. Every day, every practice, every game is a learning process for us,” Capital1 head coach Roger Gorayeb said./ASC, WDJ