Games Thursday:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2:30 p.m. – Chery Tiggo vs PLDT
5:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs Creamline
Dominican import Prisilla Rivera made sure to leave behind a game to remember as she wrapped up her first stint with newcomer Akari.
The three-time Olympian scored 32 points to lead the also-ran Chargers to a 25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 25-22, shocker over F2 Logistics in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.
Rivera frustrated the defense of the Cargo Movers, who played sans Kalei Mau due to a calf injury, spraying 29 kills on 87 attempts as Akari ended its maiden campaign with a 3-5 win-loss record.
“It’s good to win and I’m happy for them. It’s always a challenge being the youngest one (team). We had a lot of chances in this tournament. Finally, maybe we got the spirit of this team,” Akari Brazilian coach Jorge de Brito said.
With F2 Logistics threatening to send the game to a fifth set with a 6-2 rally to trim the Chargers’ lead to 18-19, the 37-year-old hitter scored five of Akari’s last six points to finish off the Cargo Movers.
Janine Marciano and Erika Raagas added eight markers each for the Chargers. Ezra Madrigal got six points while Jaja Maraguinot tallied 19 excellent sets.
F2 Logistics saw its three-game winning streak snapped as the squad dropped to a 3-3 slate in a three-way logjam at no. 4 tied with Cignal and Choco Mucho.
American Lindsay Stalzer struggled on offense as she registered 17 points from 17-of-62 spiking clip for the Cargo Movers, who are now hard-pressed to win all of their remaining two games for a chance to advance in the round robin Final Four.
Only two semis seats are left for grabs with league-leading Creamline (6-1) and Chery Tiggo (5-2) occupying the first two berths.
Ivy Lacsina had 17 points while Kim Kianna Dy added 11 markers for F2 Logistics, who gave away 31 points off errors.
The Cargo Movers’ last two assignments are against Cignal on Saturday and Petro Gazz next week.
