Faith Nisperos and Disappointing Loss of Akari vs PLDT
Faith Nisperos, one of the standout players for the Akari Chargers, openly admitted that her team did not perform well in their match against the PLDT High Speed Hitters. In fact, the Chargers were swept by PLDT in straight sets in the latest game of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Here’s a breakdown of the game:
- Akari's Struggles: The Chargers failed to show up for the match, suffering a tough 22-25, 16-25, 15-25 loss.
- Faith Nisperos’ Performance: Nisperos was the only player to score in double digits for Akari, contributing 11 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop PLDT.
- Missing Grethcel Soltones: Akari also missed the impact of their key player, Grethcel Soltones, which hurt their performance.
- Nisperos Reflects on the Loss: Nisperos said the team didn’t manage to show what they had been practicing for in the past three weeks. "We really didn’t show what we worked hard for in training. We didn’t perform as expected," she said.
Despite the loss, Nisperos emphasized that the team would regroup. The last time Akari played PLDT, it was a memorable and controversial semifinal match in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, which Akari won. However, Nisperos pointed out that this game wasn’t about revisiting that rivalry it was about focusing on the present.
Resounding Victory of PLDT Over Akari
PLDT came into this match determined to make a statement after their emotional loss to Akari in last season’s semifinals. The High Speed Hitters dominated the game and swept the Chargers in three sets:
- PLDT’s Impressive Play: The High Speed Hitters won 25-22, 25-16, and 25-15.
- Savi Davison Leads the Charge: Fil-Canadian spiker Savi Davison played a key role in the win, scoring 15 points. She had 13 attacks and 2 blocks.
- Majoy Baron and Erika Santos Contribute: Majoy Baron contributed 11 attack points, while Erika Santos added 10 points to the scoreboard.
- Kath Arado’s Defense: Captain Kath Arado led the defense with 19 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions, showing her all-around contribution to the team’s success.
What Coach Rald Ricafort Said
PLDT’s coach, Rald Ricafort, shared that his team had been focused on winning the match, not getting caught up in the past. Before the game, the players were reminded to focus on the task at hand, despite any extra motivation from previous events.
- Ricafort’s Focus on the Game: "The advice was to stay focused, no matter what extra motivation there might be," Ricafort said.
PLDT Moving Up in the Standings
With the win, PLDT improved to a 4-2 record and secured the fourth spot in the standings. The High Speed Hitters are now looking to continue their momentum when they face Choco Mucho on January 23. On the other hand, Akari, with a 3-4 record, will aim to bounce back against their sister team, Nxled, who are still winless at 0-6.
Rivalry of PLDT vs Akari is More Than Just Revenge
For PLDT's Savi Davison, facing Akari was a chance for redemption after last year's controversial loss. She acknowledged that rivalries make the games more exciting and meaningful, giving extra weight to the victory.
- Davison’s Take on Rivalries: "Rivalries are so interesting. I love being part of them. It just makes everything so much better and so much heavier. It makes the win sweeter and the losses harder," Davison explained.
- More Than Revenge: While revenge was on the mind, Davison emphasized that this match was more about starting the year strong after two tough losses to Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz.
She also highlighted that this match was a chance for PLDT to prove themselves as they continue their pursuit of a title.
- Setting Standards for the Year: “It’s all up to the players on how we show up in practice and on game day,” Davison said. “If we win, it’ll be a great start to 2025.”
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