An early challenge woke the team up.
The Akari Chargers quickly returned to the win column on Tuesday after trouncing the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in four sets, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20 in the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
It was a highly competitive match throughout, but it was the Chargers who dug deep in the crucial stretches to improve to 2-1. They absorbed a straight-sets loss to the PLDT High Speed Hitters last Thursday.
Veteran Dindin Santiago-Manabat starred for Akari with 20 points built on 15 attacks, four blocks, and an ace.
The 30-year-old tower, as she's done many times in the past, led the Chargers' defense, making life extra difficult for Chery Tiggo with their blocking.
"Pinagtrabahuhan namin simula nung natalo kami sa PLDT. Kumuha kami ng mga aral na dinala namin sa laro dito sa Cherry," said Santiago-Manabat.
She admitted that she always gets extra motivated when facing her former team. She suited up for Chery Tiggo from 2020 to 2022. But it's not because of any animosity.
"Nai-inspire ako na kahit wala na ko sa kanila, gusto ko maging best example pa rin ako na kahit naging part ako ng family nila, kailangan ko lumaban para sa teammates ko," added the star middle blocker.
She also tipped her hat to her rookie teammates Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareno, describing them as "hardworking, patient, and competitive."
The Crossovers suffered their first loss of the conference after back-to-back wins against the Farm Fresh Foxies and the Galeries Towers Highrisers.
Akari will have a short turnaround before returning to action on Thursday against Farm Fresh.
Chery Tiggo, meanwhile, will have ample to regroup before facing the Gerlfor Defenders on Tuesday.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco, One Sports Digital)