By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Akari aims to bounce back against Farm Fresh and secure a direct quarterfinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Chargers, last year’s Reinforced Conference runners-up, take on the Foxies at 4 p.m. with Grethcel Soltones expected to return from a hand strain to lead Akari alongside Ivy Lacsina, Faith Nisperos, Ced Domingo, Erika Raagas, Camille Victoria, and Fifi Sharma.
The sixth-seeded Foxies, who scored a 25-23, 25-21, 25-14 victory over the Chargers in their preliminary-round match last Nov. 30, will bank on Trisha Tubu, Jolina dela Cruz, Caitlin Viray, Aly Bertolano, Louie Romero, Maicah Larroza, Rizza Cruz, Lorene Toring and Rachel Ann Daquis.
Daquis delivered 19 points when Farm Fresh turned back Capital1, 18-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-12, last Feb. 18.
“I think there were games where we didn’t have Jolina (dela Cruz), and we didn’t have Rachel (Daquis). Now, little by little, and then hopefully… going into the qualifying round, we’ll be complete. So if we’re complete, I think the team’s performance will change, because we’ve seen some advantages of the team, the team’s strengths are showing, so it will be different,” Farm Fresh mentor Benson Bocboc said.
Meanwhile, No. 4 PLDT looks to clinch an automatic quarterfinal spot against No. 9 ZUS Coffee at 6:30 p.m.
Savi Davison, Fiola Ceballos, Dell Palomata, Majoy Baron, Erika Santos and Mika Reyes will banner the High Speed Hitters, who beat the Thunderbelles, 25-20, 25-16, 25-16, last Feb. 22, in Iloilo.
Spearheading ZUS Coffee are Chai Troncoso, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Thea Gagate, Michelle Gamit, Kate Santiago, Gayle Pascual, and Chinnie Arroyo.
Defending champion and top seed Creamline, No. 2 Petro Gazz, No. 5 Choco Mucho, and No. 10 Galeries Tower –have already advanced to the next round.
The last two quarterfinal seats will be contested in the play-in tournament, where six teams – Cignal, Nxled, Capital1, and Chery Tiggo, along with the losers of today’s matches– will battle for survival in a single-round elimination starting Thursday. (PNA)
