MANILA, Philippines – The Akari Chargers needed all the help they can get from import Prisilla Rivera as they escaped the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in five sets, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12, to snap a PVL Reinforced Conference three-game skid at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, November 3.
The Olympian spiker hailing from the Dominican Republic erased former Perlas import Kia Bright’s scoring record of 41 with a massive 44-point eruption off 39 attacks, 4 aces, and 1 block as the Chargers rose to a 2-4 record.
Bright set the previous record on July 6, 2018 while playing for BanKo Perlas against PayMaya.
Former Pocari reinforcement Michelle Strizak scored 40 in 2017, while current Creamline star Alyssa Valdez set the local player record at 39 in 2016.
“I’m very proud of her. I think Akari brought her to shine here and make our league stronger so congrats to her, congrats to her teammates that helped her,” said Akari coach Jorge de Brito after Rivera’s record-setting outing.
“She’s amazing, she’s a three-time Olympian. Every training she comes to practice to prove herself.”
Janine Marciano backstopped their import’s herculean effort with 18 points and 13 excellent digs. Rookie Jaja Maraguinot posted her best playmaking game yet with 20 excellent sets, while Fil-Canadian libero Rachel Jorvina also had her own coming-out party with 17 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs.
It was a heated debut for the league’s long-awaited video challenge system as Akari bucked two blatantly blown calls in the first and fourth sets before going down 1-3 in the deciding fifth frame.
Choco Mucho then kept it close until the game’s late stages off a Deanna Wong dump to get within 11-12, but Rivera responded with her 42nd and 43rd point to reach match point at 14-11.
Titans import Odina Aliyeva saved one point off a crosscourt smash, but Rivera fittingly ended her memorable outing with one last kill for the skid-ending win.
Aliyeva was the lone Choco Mucho player to hit double-digits with 26 points as team captain Bea de Leon and Kat Tolentino came at a distant second and third with 9 and 8 points, respectively.
The Titans sorely missed the services of star libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla – who stayed glued to the bench likely with an injury – as they slid down to a 2-3 slate for the conference.
Meanwhile, the Cignal HD Spikers swiftly took care of business in the opening game with a 25-23, 25-19, 25-19 sweep to push the winless UAI-Army Lady Troopers to the brink of elimination with a 0-5 record.
Import Tai Bierria led all scorers with 17 points and 12 excellent digs, while Gel Cayuna tallied 20 excellent sets to help Rachel Anne Daquis and Ces Molina score 10 apiece.
Cignal looks to further improve its 2-2 record with a win over the Petro Gazz Angels on Thursday, November 10, 2:30 pm, still at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, while Akari tries to nab its first-ever winning streak at 5:30 pm, against the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
Meanwhile, the Army will try to stave off elimination against a vengeful Choco Mucho side on Tuesday, November 8, 2:30 pm, at the Araneta Coliseum, right before a blockbuster 5:30 pm showdown between the Creamline Cool Smashers and the F2 Cargo Movers. – Rappler.com
