By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Akari Power Chargers kept their semifinal hopes alive after escaping the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in a grueling five-set battle, 25-15, 23-25, 25-16, 15-25, 21-19, in the step-ladder quarterfinals of the PVL All-Filipino Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, March 28.

Negrense Christine Joy Soyud finished with 18 markers, backing up Ivy Lacsina, who spearheaded the offense for Akari with 30 points, on 28 attacks, one block and a service ace.

The Chargers appeared headed for a four-set victory but faltered in the fourth, allowing the Flying Titans to force a deciding frame.

Choco Mucho carried that momentum into the fifth set, pushing Akari to the limit in an extended race.

In the end, Akari steadied itself in the closing stretch, delivering the crucial points needed to survive the tight contest and secure passage to the next stage of the tournament.

The win propels Akari into a knockout showdown against the Creamline Cool Smashers in the final phase of the play-in round, where a semifinal berth will be at stake.

Meanwhile, the Nxled Chameleons also moved a step closer to the semifinals after sweeping the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23.

MarJana Phillips finished with 17 points built on 13 attacks and three blocks, and was named Player of the Game for the Chameleons, who will battle the Farm Fresh Foxies for a spot in the semifinals round.

“We just really locked in, we watched a lot of films. We know we made a mistake the last time out, so we did well today,” Phillips said after the match.

Nxled leaned on a composed and disciplined performance to fend off Galeries Tower, particularly in the tight opening and third sets where the Highrisers threatened to extend the match.

The Chameleons held their ground in crucial stretches, capitalizing on timely attacks and defensive stops to complete the straight-sets victory./ASC, WDJ