NEW Premier Volleyball League club Akari pulled off a 25-27, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-12 win over UAAP Season 84 third placers Ateneo in a exhibition match that went down the wire Sunday night at the USLS Coliseum in Bacolod City.

The Chargers rallied from a 1-2 set deficit to beat the Blue Eagles in front of almost 4,000 fans that packed the fabled Bacolod venue.

With the successful friendly, which is a part of two teams’ build-up for their respective leagues, Bea Tan, the organizer of GRID Athletic Sports, said that there is another exhibition match coming up next month.

As part of Masskara Festival celebration, UAAP squads University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo will play on October 9 at the USLS Coliseum.

“Everyone is very excited to see two UAAP teams to headline the event for the Masskara festival this October,” said Tan.

This will be the first time the Tigresses and the Blue Eagles will go up against each other since their Season 84 step-ladder semis last June. The two teams also met in the epic UAAP women’s volleyball championship showdown in May 2019, where Ateneo won in three games against UST.

The Chargers were led by Trisha Genesis, Lycha Ebon, Janine Marciano, Geneveve Casugod, Michelle Cobb and Krich Macaslang, who produced the match-winner.

Akari’s Erika Raagas, Dani Ravena and sisters Jho and Jaja Maraguinot faced their former college teammates in this match-up.

Faith Nisperos, Vanie Gandler, AC Miner, Joan Narit, Taks Fujimoto, Makana Kowalski and libero Roma Mae Doromal bannered Ateneo.

In Iloilo City, the Blue Eagles defeated the Chargers, 25-10, 25-17, 20-25, 22-25, 15-9, to open their Visayas exhibition games at the University of San Agustin Gym.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado