FLIPPING THE SWITCH: Akari grounds Nxled, snaps three-game skid

Games Thursday:

(FilOil EcoOil Centre)

4 p.m. — Capital1 vs Farm Fresh

6:30 p.m. — Choco Mucho vs Galeries

Akari rediscovered its winning ways to snap out of a three-game slump at the expense of suddenly skidding Nxled, 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Playmaker Mars Alba led the way with impressive playmaking in a well-distributed production, which saw four Chargers in double figures in the team’s first win in four tries.

The De La Salle University product dished out 22 excellent sets that helped Akari convert 70 attack points for its sixth straight victory over its sister team, which lost second in a row.

“Thankful we got our first win, hopefully, we’ll be able to get more,” Alba said.

“We just trusted each other, and we just played our game.”

Ivy Lacsina did most of the damage for the Chargers, scoring 20 points in a 20-of-63 attacking clip and adding 10 excellent receptions.

Ced Domingo had a field day with quick kills to log 17 markers, including the game-winning spike that ended the two-hour, 25-minute match. Eli Soyud submitted 13 points while Grethcel Soltones had an efficient all-around game of 12 points, 14 digs and 10 excellent receptions for Akari.

The Chargers were quick to recover from a third-set slip-up, building a 16-11 advantage in the fourth frame. Nxled tried to bridge the gap behind three-time Most Valuable Player Brooke Van Sickle, Ranya Musa and Jonah Sabete to draw close, 19-17.

Akari answered with a 4-2 run to keep its distance but the Chameleons came back to threaten at 23-21. Soyud hammered a through the block hit for match point.

Van Sickle saved a match point before Domingo put the game away.

The Chargers had the chance to sweep the match after going up, 22-20, only to allow Nxled to string four unanswered points to get into set point advantage.

Domingo stopped Akari’s bleeding but substitute setter Kamille Cal sent her service long to surrender the set.

Van Sickle saw her 16 points, 13 digs and seven excellent receptions wasted as the Chameleons dropped to a 3-2 card.

Myla Pablo had 14 points and MJ Phillips finished with 12 markers.