MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) The Cignal HD Spikers barged into the win column of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference after sweeping the Akari Chargers, Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The HD Spikers displayed their poise in the first two frames before dominating the third in a 25-23, 25-20, 25-14 triumph. It marks their first win of the conference after a 0-2 start.

Skipper Rachel Anne Daquis led the HD Spikers with 11 points while Roselyn Doria added nine and Ces Molina scored eight. Cignal HD tallied a 40-29 edge in attacks while netting 22 free points off the Chargers' errors.

"Sobrang proud and happy, kasi slowly nakakabalik din kami doon sa galaw namin, sa performance namin," said Cignal HD coach Shaq delos Santos. "So, hopefully ito na 'yung sign talaga na magtuloy-tuloy ulit."

The two teams engaged in a stop-and-start opener marked by challenges on both sides, though it was Cignal HD that built some separation, 23-19, off a Molina hit. But Akari won the next four rallies, capped by a cross-court attack by Dindin Santiago-Manabat that forced a 23-all count.

Santiago-Manabat was stopped in the next rally by Doria, however, with Krich Macaslang proving a step slow to recover in the ensuing scramble. A cross-court hit by Glaudine Troncoso gave Cignal HD the Set 1 win after 39 minutes.

The HD Spikers again outplayed Akari in the closing stretch of Set 2, after the Chargers came within one point, 20-19, off a Michelle Cobb ace. Angel Cayuna scored back-to-back points -- first off a 1-2 play and then an ace -- for a 22-19 spread. She committed a service error to start the next rally but Daquis and Molina won the next two points for Cignal HD, and Akari shot itself in the foot in the last play as they were called for a violation.

Cignal HD went on to dominate the third set, pulling away from an 8-7 count by winning 13 of the next 16 rallies for a comfortable 21-10 advantage.

"Napaka-laking impact nito sa team namin. High morale, masaya 'yung team and nage-enjoy," said Daquis, who had eight kills and three blocks.

Akari fell to 0-3 in the conference, and they have yet to win a set. Santiago-Manabat was their lone double-digit scorer with 11 points; Janine Marciano added seven markers.