CHARGING BACK: Akari seeks big rebound

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

4 p.m. — Nxled vs Capital1

6:30 p.m. — Akari vs Farm Fresh

Humbled the last time out, Akari tries to regain lost ground in a clash with winless Farm Fresh in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Chargers are out to rebound from a straight sets loss to defending champion Creamline last week in Candon, Ilocos Sur when they march back into center court at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, listless teams Nxled and Capital1 square off at the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser to finally snatch a win in the season-opening conference.

All eyes will be on Akari as it gets a test of character after surrendering to the Cool Smashers, 24-26, 17-25, 16-25, which halted its two-game romp.

The Japanese coach Taka Minowa-mentored squad sports a 2-1 win-loss record tied with ZUS Coffee, Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo.

However, the Chargers will have to hurdle the young and hungry Foxies sans veteran hitter and vocal on-court leader Grethcel Soltones.

The high-flying powerhitter and reliable floor defender is expected to sit out the rest of the week after suffering an aggravated strained right hand she sustained during the team’s Japan training camp.

Soltones played through pain in Akari’s back-to-back wins over Galeries Tower and ZUS Coffee. She was forced to skip the grudge match against Reinforced Conference finals tormentor Creamline with her hand heavily bandaged.

Erika Raagas gave the Chargers a lift on offense with 11 points but her efforts weren’t enough as she received little help after Eli Soyud, Ivy Lacsina, Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos struggled.

Farm Fresh is looking to wake up from a two-game slump. The Foxies have yet to win a set in the all-local tournament after getting swept by unbeaten Cignal and Petro Gazz.

Charging back to action without newly-acquired veterans in Rachel Anne Daquis and Jheck Dionela and still recovering Jolina dela Cruz and Lorene Toring, the Foxies will again rely heavily on the youthful trio of Trisha Tubu, Maicah Larroza and Rizza Cruz to get out of their funk.

On the other hand, the Chameleons and the Solar Spikers both lost in their first three assignments.

Nxled is coming off a 24-26, 15-25, 18-25, defeat at the hands of Chery Tiggo while Capital1 got swept by PLDT, 17-25, 20-25, 17-25, last Tuesday.

Chiara Permentilla, May Luna, Jaila Atienza and Lycha Ebon lead the Chameleon against the Solar Spikers’ Heather Guino-o, Jorelle Singh, Patty Orendain and Lourdes Clemente-De Guzman.