Four more teams clashed in the Qualifying Round of the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena. But only two advanced outright to the quarters. Here’s a recap of the action:
Akari Holds Off Farm Fresh in Tense Five-Setter
Gretchel Soltones, sideline for much of the preliminaries, made a triumphant return on Tuesday, leading the Akari Chargers to a 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-15, 15-9 triumph over the determined Farm Fresh Foxies in their Qualifying Round encounter.
Soltones fired 11 markers in her return in a little over two sets of action. She also sealed the quarters-clinching victory with three straight kills—including the penultimate point off a kill block on Caitlin Viray and the game-winning spike.
Ivy Lacsina led the Chargers’ charge with a team-high 22 points as she copped Player of the Game honors. Eli Soyud added 14, while Camile Victora and Faith Nisperos chipped in 10 and 8, respectively. Akari also got 5 points each from Michelle Cobb and Ced Domingo, plus another 4 from Ezra Madrigal.
The Chargers needed every bit of production from everyone as Farm Fresh put up a determined effort led by Trisha Tubu’s game-high 23. Aly Bertolano put up 13, while Rizza Cruz had 7. The Foxies, though, were outgunned (59-49) and outblocked (12-2) and had trouble with service reception, giving up nine aces to the Chargers.
With the win, Akari secured an outright quarters berth. Farm Fresh drops to the play-in.
Up next:
Akari vs. Galeries Tower Highrisers (March 15, PhilSports Arena)
Farm Fresh vs. Chery Tiggo Crossovers (March 11, PhilSports Arena)
PLDT Repulses Zus Coffee Behind Explosive Savi Davison Performance
Savi Davison was in her element on Tuesday, exploding for 34 big points to help the PLDT High Speed Hitters repulse the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles, 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24, despite losing the first set in the final Qualifying Round match.
Davison’s 34-point explosion matched her PVL career-high, and PLDT needed every point as they faced an inspired Zus Coffee squad that roared out of the gates to take the first set. But Davison led a high-speed comeback, with Erika Santos providing added firepower with her 13 markers. Majoy Baron chipped in 7, while Kiesha Bedonia and Kim Fajardo put up 5 each.
Chai Troncoso led the way for Zus Coffee with 20 points, followed by 11 from Jovelyn Gonzaga. Chinnie Arroyo and Thea Gagate added 9 each for the Thunderbelles, who couldn’t sustain their fiery start to the match and yielded in a close fourth set.
With the win, PLDT also advanced outright to the quarters, while Zus Coffee slid to the play-ins.
Up next:
PLDT vs. Choco Mucho Flying Titans (March 15, PhilSports Arena)
Zus Coffee vs. Cignal HD Spikers (March 11, PhilSports Arena)
2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference: Play-Ins Are Next as Qualifying Round Ends
The whirlwind Qualifying Round of the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference is now over, and action shifts to the play-ins. Making up Group A are the Cignal HD Spikers, Capital1 Solar Spikers, and Zus Coffee, while Group B will have the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, Nxled Chameleons, and Farm Fresh.
Chery Tiggo and Nxled will get the play-ins going on Thursday, March 6, at the PhilSports Arena. Capital1 and Cignal will play in the second game.
