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Akari Finds Its Rhythm, Sweeps PLDT for First PVL Win

Eli Soyud’s 12 points and Justine Jazareno’s Best Player of the Game performance powered Akari’s straight-sets breakthrough against PLDT.

Published

9 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Akari Finds Its Rhythm, Sweeps PLDT for First PVL Win

Akari finally broke through on Tuesday night, sweeping PLDT 25-18, 25-19, 25-22 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City for its first victory of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab series.

Eli Soyud led the Chargers with 12 points as Akari won the attack battle 41-30 and feasted on PLDT’s mistakes, scoring 27 points off High Speed Hitters errors. Fifi Sharma added seven points, while Jyne Soreño, Faith Nisperos and Ivy Lacsina contributed six apiece. The Chargers also matched PLDT’s five blocks, in a department the High Speed Hitters usually dominate.

Libero Justine Jazareno earned Best Player of the Game honors with 15 digs and a 31 percent reception efficiency. “We just enjoyed the game and responded to coach Ed’s reminder that we played with passion,” Jazareno said, pointing to the team’s improved chemistry and communication after opening losses to Creamline and Capital1.

For PLDT, Jessa Ordiales paced the team with 10 points, Kim Dy added seven and Mika Reyes four, while star scorer Savi Davison was held to just five points in the High Speed Hitters’ third consecutive defeat. In the single-round-robin Siklab series, only the top four of nine teams advance to the crossover semifinals, so every result carries extra weight.

Photo: PVL

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Royal Jones

We Speak Sports

Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

Published

4 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.