By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Christine Joy Soyud delivered a steady performance, but her 17-point effort wasn’t enough as the Akari Power Chargers absorbed a costly 23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25 defeat to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal on Tuesday night, November 18.

Soyud sparked multiple Akari surges and provided consistent scoring support to import Annie Mitchem, giving the Power Chargers several chances to swing the momentum.

However, despite Soyud’s strong performance, Akari faltered in the closing stretches of the tight first and third sets.

The loss sent the Power Chargers down to 4-4, putting them at risk of slipping to as low as eighth place depending on the outcomes of the Cignal Super Spikers, the Petro Gazz Angels and the Capital1 Solar Spikers’ remaining matches.

Meanwhile, the Flying Titans ended their 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on a high note, snapping a four-game slide to finish at 3-5 — likely ninth in the final standings.

Honey Royce Tubino capped the Flying Titans’ season with a triple-double: 20 points on 18 attacks and two blocks, 11 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions to earn Player of the Game honors.

Import Anyse Marlee Smith added 18 markers.

Madeleine Madayag and Maria Lina Molde contributed nine each.

Setter Deanna Wong tallied 24 excellent sets, and libero Fatima General finished with 24 digs.

Mitchem topped Akari with 30 points, but it was Soyud’s steady, timely and efficient display that kept the Power Chargers afloat for most of the match, even as the team stumbled to a deflating loss heading into the quarterfinals./ASC, WDJ