The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference is set for another exciting day as the unbeaten Akari Chargers and the joint No. 2 HD Spikers prepare to take on their struggling opponents in today’s (Thursday) matches at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Akari Chargers, currently enjoying a flawless 6-0 record, will face their sister team, the Nxled Chameleons, who have only secured one victory in six games. Akari, once considered an underdog, has defied expectations this season, securing the first quarterfinal berth and reigniting their aspirations under the leadership of Oly Okaro.
Quarterfinalists Akari and Cignal will try to maintain their momentum in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday.
The unbeaten Chargers take on the Nxled Chameleons at 3 p.m., while the HD Spikers battle winless Galeries Tower Highrisers at 5 p.m.
Akari, which has a 6-0 record, will be spearheaded by import Oly Okaro with support coming from Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, Ced Domingo, Camille Victoria, Joy Soyud, Ezra Madrigal, Kamille Cal, Dani Ravena and Alexandra Juangco.
Nxled, on the other hand, will bank on import Meegan Hart and local talents Jho Maraguinot, May Luna, and Trisha Genesis to improve its 1-6 card.
Meanwhile, import MJ Perez and locals Ces Molina and Gel Cayuna will lead Cignal, which is tied with PLDT at 5-1.
In another important match, Capital1 eyes its fifth win and a quarterfinal slot against Farm Fresh at 1 p.m.
The Solar Spikers, who are in joint fourth with the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, will lean anew on Russian import Marina Tushova, the league's leading scorer.
The Foxies (2-4) will be led by Yeny Murillo, Trisha Tubu, Caitlyn Viray and Louie Romero. (PNA)
THE big question heading into Thursday's matches is whether quarterfinalists Akari and Cignal should adopt a more cautious approach to avoid injuries or continue to go all out to maintain their momentum and competitive edge.
The answer will soon be clear as the unbeaten Chargers face off their struggling sister team, the Nxled Chameleons, while the joint No. 2 HD Spikers take on the winless Galeries Tower Highrisers at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Given the teams' current standings, the outcomes seem as predictable as rain in the wet season — but surprises have been a hallmark of this Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Akari is a prime example of such surprises. Once considered an underdog due to the depth of talent among the perennial favorites, the Chargers have surged to the top with six consecutive victories, securing the first quarterfinal berth.
Oly Okaro has reignited the team's aspirations following a seventh-place finish in the recent All-Filipino Conference. Since joining the league in 2022, Akari had never finished higher than seventh. But with their flawless start, the Chargers' future looks bright.
Key players like Ivy Lacsina, who has elevated her game, and Grethcel Soltones, who has rediscovered her fiery form, have been instrumental in this success. The integration of Ced Domingo, Camille Victoria, Joy Soyud and Ezra Madrigal into coach Taka Minowa's system has further strengthened the team.
These factors make Akari the heavy favorites in their 3 p.m. match against the Chameleons.
In stark contrast, Nxled is desperately searching for answers in what has been a lackluster campaign. With only one win in six games, the Chameleons, led by import Meegan Hart and local talents like Jho Maraguinot, May Luna and Trisha Genesis, will need nothing short of a miracle to turn their season around and avoid elimination in a week's time.
Meanwhile, Cignal, in joint second with PLDT with 5-1 slates, has only itself to blame if it fails to win against Galeries Tower in the 5 p.m. main game.
