Akari sustains power, eliminates Petro Gazz

Akari sustained the momentum of its extended first set escape to boot out Petro Gazz, 32-30, 25-22, 25-19, and seal a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Ivy Lacsina played hero for the Chargers in the lengthy and exhausting first set with her timely hits, as the crucial opening frame win set the tone for the quick knockout round sweep.

Akari will take on preliminary round tormentor Cignal in the one-game quarters meeting on Thursday.

“Actually, inside the team, there’s already a challenge with our injured players. But I’m very happy with the outcome. We used the break for them to recover and we made lots of adjustments. It just feels good to have this kind of outcome,” Chargers head coach Tina Salak said.

Lacsina finished with 16 points coming off 12 attacks, three blocks and an ace for Akari, which dominated the attacking department, 53-35, with nine kill blocks and landing six aces.

Eli Soyud got 15 markers with all but one coming off kills while Grethcel Soltones posted 13 points including a powerful hammer that ended the one-hour, 42-minute encounter. Bea Bonafe tallied 14 excellent sets for the Chargers.

The towering Lacsina brought Akari at set point in the first frame, 24-22, but the Angels forced an extension. Petro Gazz rallied and got on top twice with its last at 29-28 before Lacsina knotted the count.

Lacsina pushed Akari at setpoint, 31-30, with a down the line kill before sealing the frame with a crosscourt hit that the Angels failed to control.

The Chargers dictated the pace in the second frame before pulling away midway in the third set, which started tight.

Rookie Chenie Tagaod came off the bench in her lone appearance in the third set and racked up three straight aces to put Akari at match point, 24-19, before Soltones’ finishing kick.

Myla Pablo scored 14 of her 15 points from kills and got eight excellent receptions while Nicole Tiamzon got 12 markers for reigning All-Filipino Conference Petro Gazz, which felt the absence of Alas Pilipinas stars Brooke van Sickle and MJ Phillips in its disappointing run.