By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Christine Joy Soyud delivered timely hits as the Akari Power Chargers reached the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals with a 17-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23 victory over the Farm Fresh Foxies in the quarterfinals at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan late Saturday, August 24.

Inserted midway through the fourth set, the Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City-native hitter unloaded four points as the Power Chargers survived a tough challenge from the Foxies to enter the Final 4 round.

The Power Chargers faced a significant challenge in the fourth set after being down 9-15 before clawing their way back to take a 16-15 lead on back-to-back connections from Soyud.

Soyud then converted two more points along with Camille Victoria as Akari took a 21-17 lead, but Farm Fresh made their last push to tie the score at 22-all.

Grethcel Soltones then put on the finishing touches for the Power Chargers as she delivered back-to-back kills to push Akari to match point before Victoria sealed the win with a block.

Soltones and import Oly Okaro led the Power Chargers with 17 points apiece, while Ivy Lacsina and Victoria contributed 12 and nine points, respectively,

“It was a team effort. We took some time and lost the first set. But from the second set onward, our players gradually found their groove,” Akari head coach Taka Minowa said.

“Maybe it’s about the pressure,” he added.

Trisha Tubu led Farm Fresh with 15 points, Leny Murillo and Caitlyn Viray both contributed 12 points each, while Kate Santiago added seven markers to the tally./ASC, WDJ