Undefeated Akari comes back from behind to defeat Petro Gazz

Akari’s Oly Okaro attends PVL reinforcement meeting. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Ollie Okaro and Akari come back to win again in the tournament Pulmonary valve replacement The Chargers strengthened their league with their third straight win at the Philippine Arena on Saturday.

Okaro once again led 3-0 Akari, scoring 31 points to defeat Petro Gazz and hand the Angels their second straight loss.

Akari, fresh off a comeback win over Choco Mucho on Tuesday, continued its best start with a 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 29-27, 16-14 win over the Angels.

Akari coaches Taka Minowa and Oly Okaro discuss their three-game winning streak. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/jFqhvFc58a

— Lance Agcaoil (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 27, 2024

“It’s a hard-earned victory, for sure. Petro Gazz didn’t give us an easy win. But (my) motivation comes from my teammates, coaches and everyone who has supported Akari from the beginning to now, they are what we fight for. No one else,” returning libero Dani Ravena said in Filipino.

“Those are the ones who believed in us from day one, it’s as simple as that. So we just hope that we can continue and at least improve in the next games because it’s going to be a very long season and hopefully that works in our favor,” Ravena added

But Okaro wasn’t alone, as he got a lot of help from Grethcel Soltones, who contributed 19 points from 16 attacks and three aces, Ivy Lacsina, who chipped in 18 points, and Ced Domingo, who chipped in 11 points.

“It felt a little different today. I definitely felt like I was very dependent on the team and I didn’t feel like I was always on top. I felt like I just needed a little extra push. I don’t think I always made the best decisions, even towards the end of the match, those key moments where I couldn’t hold serve, so I think there were moments where I could have done better, especially when it was kind of those momentum killers,” Okaro said.

Petro Gazz was swept by Capital1 last Tuesday but failed to bounce back, and even with the combination of Brooke van Sickle and Cuban importer Wilma Salas, failed to convert a two-set lead into a win.

Van Sickle scored 24 points for the Angels on 20 attacks, three service points and a block (in addition to 16 outstanding defensive plays), while Salas added 22 points on 20 attacks and two blocks.

Remy Palma played a key role in scoring 11 points, led by freshman setter Donalyn Paralejas’ extended playing time.

“My excitement has subsided compared to the last game against a top team (Choco Mucho) when I was very excited,” Lacina said. “Now, I am relaxed and Greta and Dani told me to calm down, which is probably why I played better.”

Both sides were in a stalemate, neither leaving the slightest gap to the other. Salas tried to score twice in a row, but Okaro then also scored to take the lead.

Soltones delivered the coup de grace with a serve winner, while Akari looked to maintain momentum against ZUS Coffee, who were currently battling a sluggish Choco Mucho.

“We need to remember coach Taka (Minowa)’s system. We have it to some extent, but we haven’t perfected it yet,” Lacsina said. “We will just do what the coach wants us to do because we know that at the end of the day, if we want to win, they want to win too.”