Akari showed its readiness and ability to take on the best and topple them, bringing down a second top contender in three games to get back into the thick of things in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference elims at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Tuesday night, Oct. 24.

Playmaker Jaja Maraguinot turned a flawed receive by the Chargers into a clutch point in the pivotal third set, giving the team a 23-21 cushion and Akari went on to pound out a 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20 reversal over the erstwhile unbeaten Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

It was a statement win by the souped-up Chargers, who upended the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in five last week but suffered a three-set defeat from the PLDT High Speed Hitters as they caught up with their victims at third along with their tormentors, who earlier trounced the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20.

That left Creamline and Petro Gazz, which disputed the first All-Filipino crown last March, in the joint lead with 2-0 slates.

But Akari, which ended up eighth in the All-Filipino and wound up 10th in the Invitational, looked headed to a flourishing campaign in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision with its strong, remarkable start.

They face the Foxies on Thursday, Oct. 26, also in Antipolo, before taking on the Cignal HD Spikers on Oct. 31 back at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City.

After that momentum-swinging third set escape, the Chargers endured another back-and-forth clash in the fourth before taking control at 16-12, capped by a contested service ace by Ezra Madrigal.

With Fifi Sharma asserting herself in the middle, the Chargers built a 22-16 buffer and never swayed even after the Crossovers countered with three straight points, including Shaya Adorador’s off-the-block hit.

Dindin Manabat took charge and dished out a couple of key hits, the first preserving libero Justin Jazareno’s two spectacular digs that made it, 23-19, and the other using the hands of her defenders for an off-the-block point.

Erika Raagas closed out the Crossovers with a power blast.

Manabat finished with 21 points, including 16 attacks and four blocks, aside from providing the leadership and poise as she stood out from among a slew of players who shone for the Chargers, who trailed by five in the opening set but still won by five.

Faith Nisperos scored 17 points, including five kill blocks, as she and Manabat anchored the team’s crippling net defense. The Chargers finished with 14 blocks against the Crossovers’ six.

Akari actually gave up six more attack points, 49-55, but turned it around with their solid blocking and game-long hustle.

Sharma and Raagas wound up with seven markers each while Madrigal and Trisha Genesis added six markers apiece and Maraguinot made four points.

Eya Laure topscored for Chery Tiggo again with 17 points, sister EJ had 14 markers, Ces Robles scored 12 points, Adorador and Cza Carandang finished with six points apiece and Imee Hernandez and Pauline Gaston combined for nine points.