PVL: Akari, Petro Gazz advance to Reinforced semifinals after ousting Farm Fresh, Creamline

Akari and Petro Gazz stunned higher-ranked opponents to punch their respective tickets to the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Akari stunned top-seeded Farm Fresh with a statement victory, pulling off a 28-26, 30-28, 25-21 win to send the Foxies home while the Angels ousted defending champion Creamline with a 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 25-14 escape. 

The Chargers, who finished the elimination round as the eighth seed with a 4-4 card, and the fifth seed Angels are now through to the semifinals. 

Annie Mitchem starred for Akari with a team-high 25 points together with 14 receptions while Eli Soyud and Grethcel Soltones each chipped in 10 markers as they ended the title aspirations of Farm Fresh. 

In the second game, Petro Gazz shrugged off a third-set storm from the reigning champions to complete four-set romp despite losing import Lindsey Vander Weide to injury early in the first set. 

Myla Pablo stepped up big time by detonating for 26 points while Brooke Van Sickle churned out 19 markers laced with 12 digs and 10 receptions. Vander Weide, who missed Set 2 and Set 3 but returned to the court in the fourth frame, finished with six points. 

Akari and Petro Gazz will slug it out in the semifinals.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News