By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Akari Power Chargers moved within striking distance of a qualifying berth after outlasting the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex on Tuesday, March 17.

Negrense Christine Joy Soyud contributed 12 points for the Power Chargers, which stretched their winning run to five matches to improve to a 5-3 record, good for fourth place in the standings.

Celine Domingo spearheaded the offense with 14 points, while Mereophe Sharma added 13 markers, from nine attacks and four blocks for the Power Chargers, which can secure their place in the next round with a win over the Farm Fresh Foxies on Saturday, March 21.

The Power Chargers showed composure in tight moments, eking out back-to-back narrow wins in the first two sets before briefly losing steam in the third.

Galeries Tower capitalized on Akari’s dip to extend the match, but the Power Chargers regrouped in the fourth, surviving another close frame to seal the victory.

Aiza Maizo-Pontillas top-scored for the Highrisers with 17 points, Erika Raagas added 14 markers, while Jean Asis and Erika Deloria had 13 and 10, respectively, as they fell to a 2-6 mark.

Meanwhile, the Foxies kept their playoff bid alive after turning back a depleted Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-16, 25-22, 18-25, 25-23.

Trisha Tubu delivered a standout performance, firing 22 points built on 15 attacks, five blocks and one ace to earn Player of the Game honors for the Foxies, which improved to a 4-4 mark.

Despite missing several key figures, including head coach Sherwin Meneses and top hitters Bernadeth Pons and Jema Galanza, the Cool Smashers refused to go down easily.

Creamline managed to extend the match to four sets and pushed Farm Fresh to the limit, particularly in a tightly contested fourth frame.

On the other hand, Creamline absorbed its second straight defeat, dropping to 5-3 in the standings./ASC, WDJ