MANILA, Philippines, March 5 ------ PVL contenders PLDT and Akari snagged the last two 2025 All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals berths after sending rising sister teams Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee, respectively, to the play-in tournament at the PhilSports Arena.
The High Speed Hitters bucked a first-set loss to the Thunderbelles, eventually taking a thrilling finish to the tune of a 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 26-24 four-frame victory, and fixed a blockbuster best-of-three quarterfinals against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans. MVP candidate Savi Davison tied her career-high in the nip-and-tuck endgame with 34 big points on 32 attacks and 2 aces, followed by 13 from star opposite Erika Santos. With PLDT enduring a left ankle injury to starting setter Angge Alcantara, veteran Kim Fajardo stepped right up with 15 excellent sets, while captain Kath Arado churned out 18 excellent digs before she herself succumbed to cramps late in the fourth.
Proving its worth all conference long, ZUS Coffee was on the verge of a fifth-set forcer after Kate Santiago hammered an off-the-block hit for set point, 24-23. Davison and Santos, however, did not wish the night to go on any longer, slicing the defense with a pair of sharp crosses for match point, 25-24, before Fiola Ceballos put a bow on the match with an off-the-block hit that very nearly resulted in a block point instead for ZUS Coffee. Meanwhile, Akari was forced to go the distance in the first match of the double-header, as they rose from a 2-1 set deficit to deny Farm Fresh, 25-11, 23-25, 18-25, 25-21, 15-9, to arrange a quarterfinals tussle with the giant-slaying Galeries Tower Highrisers.
Ivy Lacsina topscored with 22 points for the Chargers, who received a timely boost in the form of 11 points from the returning Grethcel Soltones. Captain Mich Cobb tossed 18 excellent sets as Eli Soyud backstopped Lacsina with 14 points. Trisha Tubu led all scorers in the loss with 23 points, while Alyssa Bertolano added a triple-double of 13 points and 11 excellent digs and receptions each. The round-robin play-in tournament begins on Thursday, March 6, featuring a quick turnaround from ZUS Coffee at 4 pm against vengeful Cignal. Chery Tiggo then faces underdog Nxled at 6:30 pm. Two more play-in playdates follow afterwards on March 11 and 13 before the quarterfinals begin on March 15.
Source: rappler.com
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