Chargers shock Crossovers to go 2-0

Akari zoomed to the Group B lead with a pristine 2-0 record.

PVL Media Bureau

Games Thursday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

1:30 P.M. — Cignal vs Farm Fresh

4 P.M. — Capital1 vs Nxled

6:30 P.M. — PLDT vs Choco Mucho

MANILA, Philippines — Akari showed its shock five-set victory over powerhouse Creamline was no fluke after it caught another big fish in Chery Tiggo with a gripping 25-11, 22-25, 29-27, 17-25, 15-7 victory Tuesday in the PVL Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Annie Mitchem, Eli Soyud and Ced Domingo conspired by firing 17, 17 and 16 points, respectively, as the Chargers zoomed to the Group B lead with a pristine 2-0 record.

It was a win that came on the heels of another cliffhanger, a 23-25, 25-23, 30-28, 23-25, 15-12 squeaker over the Cool Smashers, the reigning champions and the league’s yardstick, Saturday in Dasmariñas.

But more important than the result was the significant improvement that Akari coach Tina Salak saw in his squad.

“I saw the character, growth and composure of the team improved, the team is starting to mature,” she said.

In those two matches, Akari could have easily wilted under pressure against a pair of franchises that have already won it all with Creamline boasting 10 crowns and Chery Tiggo reigning supreme in the Bacarra bubble several years back.

But it did not.

“Everyday, we have a mindset that we want to prove ourselves,” said Domingo.

It was the Crossovers’ second straight defeat.