Photo credit: PVL

The Akari Chargers fought tooth and nail to pull off a thrilling 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 victory over sister team Nxled Chameleons in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena on Thursday.

The win wasn’t just about the scoreline—it was about grit, resilience, and bouncing back stronger. Ivy Lacsina was the undeniable hero of the night, firing off 17 points. She got plenty of help from Faith Nisperos and Eli Soyud, who chipped in 15 points apiece, and Camille Victoria, who added 10.

This was no easy ride for Akari, especially after losing setter and captain Michelle Cobb in the second set due to a head bump and neck twist. But the Chargers showed incredible composure, regrouping to dominate the next three sets and improve to a 4-4 record.

That Game-Changing Third Set

The turning point? The grueling third set. It was a 41-minute marathon with 24 deadlocks that had fans on the edge of their seats. Nxled’s Chiara Permentilla briefly gave the Chameleons the lead at 22-21 with a clutch hit. But crucial errors by Nxled opened the door for Akari to pounce. A key block from Victoria and a hammering hit from Nisperos sealed the set, giving Akari the momentum they needed to take control of the match.

Holding Strong in the Fourth

Nxled tried to force a fifth set, charging to an early 6-2 lead in the fourth. But Akari was unfazed, mounting an 8-4 rally to tie it up at 10. With the scoreline seesawing, the Chargers finally broke free with a 6-2 run, and Nisperos delivered the finishing blow to secure the win.

Soyud’s six kill blocks were a highlight of Akari’s dominance at the net, where they out-blocked Nxled 16-2. Defensively, Nisperos and Justine Jazareno were rock solid, with the latter recording 11 digs to keep the Chameleons at bay.

Nxled’s Struggles Continue

For Nxled, Permentilla’s 20 points were impressive, but errors once again proved costly. Despite winning the attack and service battles, the Chameleons’ 27 unforced errors and struggles to contain Akari’s blocking ultimately led to their seventh straight loss.

What’s Next?

With this win, Akari moves up to seventh in the standings, bouncing back from a tough loss to PLDT last weekend. Meanwhile, Nxled remains winless, desperately searching for a breakthrough.

For Akari, this victory is a statement—they’re not giving up on their playoff hopes just yet. As for Nxled, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to snap their slump. The Premier Volleyball League action is heating up, and both teams will need to dig deep as the competition rolls on.