Akari refused to surrender even in the face of an 11-point deficit in the fourth set and was rewarded with a dramatic 15-25, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 20-18 victory to shock PLDT for a bronze medal finish in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Falling short of a return to the finals following a runner-up finish last season, the Tina Salak-mentored squad saved some measure of pride by taking a podium seat.

But it didn’t come easy.

In fact, even the Chargers themselves were in disbelief at how they pulled off the improbable.

“Everybody, even we, had doubts in the fourth set. We didn’t realize that holding on together is the best thing we can possibly do to win this bronze medal,” Salak said.

Already trailing 1-2 in the match, Akari went down a 4-15 hole in the fourth set but found a way to charge back and showed grit by saving two match points before forcing the deciding frame.

The Chargers again saw themselves staring at a match point deficit in the fifth set thrice — the last at 17-18.

A service error by Jovie Prado turned out to be the opening Akari needed to complete an epic comeback.

Ced Domingo landed a service ace to give the Chargers their third and last match point advantage in the frame before Eli Soyud sealed the victory in the most anticlimactic way — a push off a broken play that grazed the top of the net before falling in as PLDT’s Russian import Anastajia Bavykina dove late to save the ball.

Meanwhile, Petro Gazz star Brooke Van Sickle was named Most Valuable Player after a stellar performance in the import-flavored season-ending conference.

Van Sickle and the Angels are trying to reclaim the crown they last won in 2022 in the winner-take-all final against ZUS Coffee as of press time.

American Anna DeBeer copped the Best Import award while Thunderbelles teammate AC Miner received the Rookie of the Conference honor.

Van Sickle and PLDT’s Savi Davison got the Best Outside Spikers recognition, Best Middle Blockers were Creamline’s Pangs Panaga and Choco Mucho’s Maddie Madayag, Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu bagged the Best Opposite Hitter citation while ZUS Coffee’s Cloanne Mondonedo and Choco Mucho’s Thang Ponce got the Best Setter and Best Libero awards, respectively.

American import Annie Mitchen fired 36 points to lead Akari while Grethcel Soltones added a triple-double with 14 points, 13 excellent receptions and 10 digs. Domingo had nine points and Fifi Sharma scored eight for the Chargers.

“In the 4th set, I thought it was over. I kind of just preparing to just like finish. And then all of a sudden, we were winning,” said Mitchem, who had 34 kills.

“I don’t even think we expected that. It was like a shock for even ourselves. And then in the fifth set, I think we started to fight more. And want to actually show what we can do and win.”