The Semifinals of the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference got underway on Saturday at the Ynares Center with the four survivors of the Quarterfinals—Creamline Cool Smashers, Petro Gazz Angels, Choco Mucho Flying Titans, and Akari Chargers—playing their first game in a round-robin semis.
Akari Pulls Off Comeback Win vs. Choco Mucho
The Akari Chargers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday en route to a stunning 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 21-25, 16-14 victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Drawn to a battle of attrition, the Chargers responded with grit and composure, overcoming a 12-8 deficit in the winner-take-all fifth set with a stunning 8-2 finishing kick. Grethcel Soltones spearheaded Akari’s late fight back, with Faith Nisperos delivering the final kills to seal the hard-fought victory.
Eli Soyud led Akari with a career-high 34 points, while Ced Domingo added 14 points on 3 kill blocks. Nisperos fired 11—including her match-clinching crosscourt laser. Ivy Lacsina added 8 and Soltones and Camile Victoria chipped in 5 apiece. Michelle Cobb, meanwhile, orchestrated the Akari offense masterfully with her 24 excellent seats.
Sisi Rondina’s match-high 24 points led the Flying Titans, who also got 14 markers from Royse Tubino and 11 each from Isa Molde and Lorraine Pecana.
Petro Gazz Shocks Creamline, Moves on Brink of Finals
Tested in the Quarterfinals, the Petro Gazz Angels proved they have learned their lesson well, coming out with ruthless aggression to win the first two sets before dispatching the Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-16, with a strong finishing kick.
Stunned by the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles in Game 1 of their Quarterfinals series no thanks to a flat start, the Angels fired on all cylinders from the get-go to establish control of this battle of top two seeds. Then, as Creamline looked to author a comeback—something the 10-time PVL champs have grown accustomed to—Petro Gazz showed steely resolve to quell every uprising.
Brooke Van Sickle exploded for 26 big points and fired the Angels’ final five points to seal the win. Veteran Jonah Sabete added 19 markers, while Myla Pablo had 11. Bernadeth Pons’s 14 led Creamline, followed by Tots Carlos’s 13 and Alyssa Valdez’s 10.
With the win, Petro Gazz joins Akari at the top of the semis leaderboard. With the loss, the defending champs are potentially facing a must-win—along with sister team Choco Mucho—in their next two matches if they hope to get back to the PVL Finals.
2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference: The Semifinals Continue
The 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference Semifinals will continue on Tuesday, April 1, at the PhilSports Arena. Creamline and Akari face off in the first match, followed by Petro Gazz taking on Choco Mucho.
