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Captain Jazareno Anchors Akari’s Turnaround as Chargers Chase Momentum in the PVL

Captain and libero Justine Jazareno anchored Akari’s breakthrough win over PLDT, then laid out the role-clarity pact the Chargers are counting on to sustain their PVL momentum.

Published

8 hours ago

October 22, 2026

Royal Jones

Captain Jazareno Anchors Akari's Turnaround as Chargers Chase Momentum in the PVL

Every turnaround has a voice behind it, and Akari’s belongs to its captain. A day after anchoring the floor defense in the Chargers’ breakthrough sweep of PLDT, libero Justine Jazareno laid out the simple pact that steadied a team that had opened the PVL All-Filipino Conference with back-to-back losses: everybody owns a role, and nobody lets go of it.

The 26-year-old team captain told her teammates she would take care of the defense and the reception herself — and trusted them to handle the setting and the attacking. Then she went out and backed it up, earning Best Player of the Game honors with 15 excellent digs and five excellent receptions as Akari beat the two-time champion High Speed Hitters, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, for its first win of the Siklab series.

The Chargers’ defense was the story of the night. With Jazareno patrolling the back row and Grethcel Soltones adding 13 excellent receptions, Akari smothered PLDT’s attack and held star spiker Savi Davison to a PVL career-low five points. Akari did it without head coach Tina Salak on the bench, with assistant coach Eddieson Orcullo steering the team through the skid-breaking win.

Jazareno was quick to say the harder work starts now. Sustaining the momentum, she stressed, means staying consistent in reception and passing — and keeping the leadership voice steady even when errors come, because no player is perfect and the response to a mistake matters more than the mistake itself.

Akari gets its next test on October 27 against Farm Fresh, and for the first time this conference, the Chargers will walk in carrying a winning feeling worth protecting.

Photo: PVL Images

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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.