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Akari Chargers’ Dindin Santiago-Manabat in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Akari buried eliminated Capital1 in a 25-17, 25-14, 25-20 victory that kept its dimming semifinal hopes alive in the PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.
Santiago-Manabat almost single-handedly dismantled the Solar Spikers with 25 points built around 20 attacks, three blocks and two aces as Akari bolstered its Final Four hopes after improving to a 4-5 standing.
“Credit naman talaga sa mga bata kasi nagkaroon ng outcome naman yung pinaghirapan namin na training,” coach Raffy Mosuela said.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
WATCH: Akari coach Raffy Mosuela, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, and Fifi Sharma after winning back-to-back games. #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/DZSKzpDgN9
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 11, 2024
Faced with an also-ran opponent, Akari utilized the matchup as preparation for its last remaining threat Chery Tiggo which it faces next on April 20 at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna province.
“From the start, ang focus namin is going to Chery dahil yun yung medyo mabigat na kalaban namin. Yung sa Capital1 naman is, nagkaroon din naman kami ng gameplan kaya ayun, nanalo naman,” Mosuela added.
READ: PVL: Akari stays in semis race, eliminates Galeries
Grethcel Soltones had nine points in addition to 14 excellent sets and nine excellent receptions while Faith Nisperos, who started once again for Akari, contributed eight attack points, the same as Ezra Madrigal.
“It was a good opportunity din for everyone to execute all of the strategies that we’ve been practicing for the past couple of weeks,” Fifi Sharma said after finishing with seven points.
“Iba din talaga na-apply namin sa game so … we’re preparing talaga for Chery kasi yun talaga yung one of the top teams right now. So yun, yung mindset lang namin, is to perform our best this game regardless para din mabigyan kami ng kumpyansa coming into the next couple of games,” she added.
With Capital1 ahead, Manabat found a hole in the Solar Spiker’s defense to tie the game at 13-all.
The Chargers manufactured a 6-2 run to daze the Solar Spikers, who committed 17 errors, and pulled away, 20-16. Jorelle Singh paced Capital1 with 10 points, the highest in her squad who dropped its sixth consecutive game and sank to a 1-8 standing.
Sharma unleashed a quick hit before Ja Lana responded with a powerful hit, 23-19.
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Soltones made her presence felt in the final frame but committed attack errors around a cross court hit before Roselle Baliton hammered one through the block.
Akari would still hope for the teams above them to drop matches to rise through the ranks.
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