The Quarterfinals of the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference began on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena with a double-header featuring the Akari Chargers and Galeries Tower Highrisers and the PLDT High Speed Hitters and Choco Mucho Flying Titans. Both games delivered thrilling action as each went to five sets. Here’s a recap of the action:
Akari Outlasts Galeries Behind Superstar Performance from Ivy Lacsina
Ivy Lacsina fired a career-high-matching 28 points, and the Akari Chargers needed every one of those points to turn back a determined Galeries Tower Highrisers, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-11, in a five-set thriller to open up Quarterfinals hostilities.
Lacsina’s big game was anchored on 22 kills and 6 kill blocks as she powered the Chargers in a match marked by exciting back-and-forth action, momentum swings, and turns and twists. Eli Soyud backed up Lacsina with 19 points and was instrumental in Akari’s dominant fourth set to send the match to a decider. Gretchel Soltones also helped the Chargers’ strong finish with 10 points.
Jewel Encarnacion topscored for Galeries with 18 points, followed by France Ronquillo’s 17. Ysa Jimenez and Roselle Baliton chipped in 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for the High Towers, who got to the Quarterfinals with a massive upset of the Cignal HD Spikers in the Qualifying Round. Galeries proved against Akari it was ready for the big stage with another near-upset.
Game 2 of this best-of-three series is on Thursday, March 20, at the PhilSports Arena.
Choco Mucho Rallies Past PLDT with Thrilling Reverse Sweep
The Chocho Mucho Flying Titans rose from the brink of defeat and rallied past the PLDT High Speed Hitters, 20-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 18-16, in an instant classic between two title contenders.
Sisi Rondina’s spectacular all-around play led Choco Mucho as she fired a game-high 31 points on top of 15 excellent digs and 12 receptions as she outdueled PLDT’s Savi Davison, who finished with 25. Royse Tubino added 20 points for the Flying Titans, who got a spark from setter Mars Alba, whose 16 excellent sets helped orchestrate the Choco Mucho attack.
Fiola Ceballos and Majoy Baron chipped in 11 and 10, respectively, to backstop Davison but were largely held in check in the fourth and fifth sets.
Game 2 of this best-of-three series is on Thursday, March 20, at the PhilSports Arena.
2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference: The Quarterfinals Continue
The 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Quarterfinals continue on Tuesday, March 18, also at the PhilSports Arena. The Creamline Cool Smashers and Chery Tiggo Crossovers will collide in the first game, while the Petro Gazz Angels and Zus Coffee Thunderbelles will face off in the second game.
