Will PLDT drain Akari’s charge?

VOLLEY

The High Speed Hitters, however, will be more than ready to slow down the Chargers with coach Rald Ricafort expecting his wards to ramp up their defense while expressing confidence on their offensive prowess.

Will PLDT drain Akari’s charge? — Mika Reyes and PLDT will attempt to put a stop to Akari’s strong surge in the PVL All-Filipino at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.(PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL)

Fresh from launching their respective title bids in style, Chery Tiggo and Akari gun for a second win against rivals of contrasting reputes today in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino as action shifts to the Filoil Ecooil Arena in San Juan City.

The fancied Crossovers had to go down the well before disposing of Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22, while the Chargers pulled off a chest-thumping 21-25, 25-20, 27-25, 19-25, 15-8 reversal over the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.

Those victories, along with the Petro Gazz Angels' 21-11, 26-24, 25-22 demolition of the Galeries Tower Highrisers, forced a six-way tie for the lead with opening day winners the Nxled Chameleons, the Cignal HD Spikers and the Creamline Cool Smashers.

The Crossovers and the Chargers, however, are keen on breaking into joint lead while seeking to build some kind of momentum in the single round robin elims among a record 12 teams in the league's season-ending conference.

Chery Tiggo is expected to dish out a stronger performance against Galeries Tower at 3 p.m. while Akari will be hard-pressed against a more formidable foe in PLDT, which despite yielding a four-setter to sister team Cignal, is armed with materials needed to figure in any title race.

Choco Mucho and Farm Fresh, meanwhile, attempt to recover from losses to Creamline and Chery Tiggo, respectively, as they tangle in the 7 p.m. main game of another triple-bill.

Spiking sisters EJ and Eya Laure hope to sustain their combined 27-point showing against the Foxies with Cess Robles likely to earn a starting spot following a sparkling 10-point showing against the Foxies.

The former National University Lady Bulldog stepped up to help anchor the Crossovers' run in the third frame, pouring in all but one of her total output before the Laures and Imee Hernandez took over in the stretch to spoil the Foxies.

Chery Tiggo actually trailed majority of the match but recovered and regrouped in time to pull off squeakers and scuttle the upset bid of one of the league's new teams.

Eyes will also be on the Chargers, who showed a lot promise after upending the favored Cargo Movers with five players, including Dindin Manabat, Faith Nisperos, Ezra Madrigal, Trisha Genesis and Fifi Sharma, churning out double-digit scores.