PVL: Okaro stars as Akari completes reverse sweep of Choco Mucho
Akari import Oly Okaro in action. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) – Akari continued its strong start in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.
This, as the Oly Okaro-led squad completed a reverse sweep of last conference’s runner-up Choco Mucho, 18-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13, for its second win on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The American spiker was firing on all cylinders, tallying season-high 38 points built on 33 attacks, three aces, and two blocks, while Grethcel Soltones and Ivy Lacsina provided the support needed with 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
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Okaro shared her mindset as she led the Chargers to triumph in five sets.
“My mindset was I was still in destroyed mode, because I was just thinking even if we lost the first two sets, it didn’t mean anything to me. I just really wanted to win. I just wanted to do everything that we could to win,” she told reporters during the postgame interview.
It was also the fifth-best scoring in the league — in time to power Akari’s first set win against Choco Mucho since November 3, 2022.
“I would say it’s nice. Fifth in the league. I probably could do better, so I’ll keep working to get better,” she said reflecting on the feat.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat paced the losing side with 16 points, while Okaro’s counterpart Zoi Faki registered 14 points.
Down 1-2 in sets, the Chargers forced a decider after Okaro penetrated Choco Mucho’s net defense, just when the Flying Titans went for two unanswered points from a 24-21 count.
In the final chapter, Soltones broke a 10-all deadlock, and then Okaro blocked Royse Tubino’s attempt for a precarious two-point separation.
Tubino would make up for it to inch closer to Akari, 12-11, but Okaro notched his 37th point Faki’s hands, 13-11.
Lacsina and Santiago-Manabat would later on score for their respective teams, 14-12, but Okaro decided that it was time to end the 2-hour 38-minute encounter with an off-the-block kill.
“I would say that this Akari team has very strong and passionate fighting attitude. Even though we’re down, collectively, we come together. We know that we don’t want to lose this game, at least not go down without a fight,” Okaro said.
The Chargers could notch their third win on Saturday against Petro Gazz, while the Flying Titans, now 0-2, have a chance to enter the win column versus ZUS Coffee at the same game date.
